Philippians 3-4; Colossians 1

1Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

2Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh!

3For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—

4though I myself could have such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more:

5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;

6as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless.

7But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.

8More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

9and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.

10I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death,

11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

14I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

15All of us who are mature should embrace this point of view. And if you think differently about some issue, God will reveal this to you as well.

16Nevertheless, we must live up to what we have already attained.

17Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you.

18For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

19Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.

20But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

21who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.

1Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you must stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

2I urge Euodia and Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.

3Yes, and I ask you, my true yokefellow, to help these women who have contended at my side for the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

5Let your gentleness be apparent to all. The Lord is near.

6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.

9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

10Now I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.

11I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.

12I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. In any and every situation I have learned the secret of being filled and being hungry, of having plenty and having need.

13I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

14Nevertheless, you have done well to share in my affliction.

15And as you Philippians know, in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church but you partnered with me in the matter of giving and receiving.

16For even while I was in Thessalonica, you provided for my needs again and again.

17Not that I am seeking a gift, but I am looking for the fruit that may be credited to your account.

18I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.

19And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

20To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

21Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you greetings.

22All the saints send you greetings, especially those from the household of Caesar.

23The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

3We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,

4because we have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints—

5the faith and love proceeding from the hope stored up for you in heaven, of which you have already heard in the word of truth, the gospel

6that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood the grace of God.

7You learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,

8and who also informed us of your love in the Spirit.

9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

10so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

11being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully

12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.

13He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,

14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

15The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

16For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.

17He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

18And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.

19For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him,

20and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.

21Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds.

22But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence—

23if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church.

25I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God,

26the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints.

27To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

28We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

29To this end I also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.