CHAPTER 6 And as workers together with him we also beseech you that ye receive not the grace of God in vain, for he says, In an accepted time I heard thee, and in the day of salvation I helped thee. Behold, now is the well accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation, giving no cause of offense in anything that the ministry be not blamed, but as God's ministers commending ourselves in everything in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings, in pureness, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfaigned, in the Word of Truth, in the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, through glory and dishonor, through evil report and good report, as deceivers and true, as unknown and well known, as dying, and behold, we live as chastened and not killed, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and possessing all things.  Now as a recompense in the same kind, I speak as to my children, be ye also enlarged. Be not yoked unequally with unbelievers, for what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness, and what communion has light with darkness, and what concord has Christ with belial, or what part has a believer with an unbeliever, and what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For ye are a temple of the living God, as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be to me a people. Wherefore, come out from among them, and be separated, saith the Lord, and touch not anything unclean, and I will receive you, and will be to you a father, and ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." Having, therefore, these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every pollution of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Receive us, we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we defrauded no one. I say it not for condemnation, for I have before said that ye are in our hearts, to die together, and to live together. Great is my confidence toward you, great is my glorying on account of you. I am filled with a consolation, I am made to abound with the joy in all our affliction. For indeed, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted in every way, without were fighting, within were fears. But God, who consoles those who are cast down, consoled us by the coming of Titus, and not by his coming only, but also by the consolation with which he was consoled in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced the more. Because though I made you sorry with the letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it, for I perceived that that letter made you sorry, though but for a season. Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you were made sorry unto repentance, for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might in nothing receive harm from us. For godly sorrow works repentance unto salvation, not to be regretted, but the sorrow of the world works out death. For behold this very thing, that ye were made sorry after a godly manner, what earnestness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what longing desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what avenging, in everything ye commended yourselves as pure in the matter. So then, though I wrote to you, it was not on account of him who did the wrong, nor of him who suffered wrong, but that your care for us might be made manifest to you in the sight of god. For this cause we were consoled, but in our consolation we rejoiced abundantly more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. For if in anything I have boasted to him of you, I was not made ashamed, but as we spoke all things to you in truth, so also our boasting before Titus was found to be truth, and his tender affection is more abundantly toward you, while he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. I rejoice that in everything I have confidence in you. CHAPTER VIII And we made known to you, brethren, the grace of God which has been bestowed on the churches of Macedonia, that in much trial of affliction was the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality. For according to their power I bear witness, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves, with much entreaty beseaching of us the grace and the participation in the ministering to the saints, and not as we expected, but themselves they gave first to the Lord and to us by the will of God, so that we exhorted Titus, that as he had before begun, so he would also finish among you this grace also. But as in everything ye abound in faith and utterance and knowledge and all diligence, and your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. I say it not by way of command, but through the forwardness of others proving also the sincerity of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. And I give an opinion in this matter, for this is expedient for you, who began before others, not only to do but also to will a year ago. And now perform the doing of it also, that as there was the readiness to will, so there may be the performance according to what ye have. For if there be first the willing mind, it is accepted according to what a man has, not according to what he has not. For it is not that others may be eased and ye burdened, but by the rule of equality at this present time your abundance being a supply for their want, that also their abundance may be a supply for your want, that there may be equality as it is written, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little did not lack. But thanks be to God who put the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus, for he accepted indeed the exhortation, but being very zealous he went to you of his own accord, and together with him we set the brother whose praise in the gospel is throughout all the churches, and not that only, but who was also appointed by the churches as our fellow traveler with this gift which is administered by us to further the glory of the Lord and our zeal, being careful of this that no one should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us, for we provide for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. And we sent with them our brother whom we have often in many things proved to be diligent, but now much more diligent through the great confidence which he has toward you, as to Titus he is my partner and in regard to you a fellow laborer, as to our brethren they are messengers of the churches the glory of Christ, therefore show toward them and before the churches the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf. CHAPTER IX For concerning the ministering to the saints it is superfluous for me to write to you, for I know your readiness of mind of which I boast for you to the Macedonians, that Achaia has been prepared since a year ago and your zeal stirred up the greater part of them, but I sent the brethren that our boasting of you might not be made in vain in this respect, that as I said ye may be prepared, lest happily if Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, that we say not ye, should be put to shame in respect to this confidence. I thought it necessary therefore to exhort the brethren that they should go before to you and make up beforehand your bounty before promised that this may be ready in manner as a bounty and not as covetousness, but as to this he that so sparingly shall also reap sparingly, and he that sows with blessings shall also reap with blessings, but each as he purposes in his heart not grudgingly or of necessity for God loves a cheerful giver, and God is able to make every grace abound toward you, that ye, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound toward every good work, as it is written, he dispersed abroad, he gave to the poor, his righteousness abides forever, and he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed zone and increase the fruits of your righteousness, being enriched in everything to all liberality which works through us thanksgiving to God, because the ministration of this service not only supplies the wants of the saints, but also abounds through many thanksgivings to God, while by the proof of this ministration they glorify God for the obedience to your profession of the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of the contribution to them and to all. They also with supplication for you longing after you on account of the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for this unspeakable gift! CHAPTER X Now I, Paul, myself, beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence indeed am lowly among you, but being absent and bold toward you, but I in treat that I may not when I am present be bold with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some who think of us as walking according to the flesh. For though walking in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty before God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being in readiness to punish every disobedience when your obedience is made perfect. Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trusts to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself consider this again, that as he is Christ's, so also are we. For even if I should boast somewhat more abundantly of our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be put to shame that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. For his letters, says one, are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible. Let such a one consider this, that such as we are in word by letters when absent, such will we be also indeed when present. For we venture not to reckon ourselves among or to compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves, but they measuring themselves among themselves and comparing themselves with themselves are not wise. But we will not boast of things without measure, but according to the measure of the line which God apportioned to us, a measure to reach even to you. For we do not stretch ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not to you, for as far as to you also did we come in the Gospel of Christ, not boasting of things without measure in other men's labors, but having hope when your faith increases, that we shall be enlarged among you according to our line abundantly, to preach the Gospel in the regions beyond you, not to make our boast in another's line of things made ready to our hand. But he that boasts, let him boast in the Lord, for not he that commends himself is approved, but he whom the Lord commends. CHAPTER XI not, or if ye receive a different spirit which ye received not, or a different Gospel which he accepted not, he might well bear with it, for I reckon that I am in no respect behind these over much apostles, and though I be rude in speech yet not in knowledge, but in everything we have been made manifest among all in respect to you. Did I commit an offense in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I preached to you the Gospel of God without charge? I robbed other churches, taking wages of them in order to do you service, and when I was present with you and in want, I was a charge to no one, for what was lacking to me, the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied, and in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so will keep myself. As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting shall not be shut up against me in the regions of Achaia. Wherefore, because I love you not, God knows. But what I do and will do is that I may cut off the occasion of those who desire an occasion, that wherein they boast, they may be found even as we, for such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ, and no wonder, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. It is no great thing then, if also his ministers transform themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. I say again, let no one think me foolish, but if it cannot be so, yet receive me even if as foolish, that I too may boast myself a little. What I speak I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness in this confidence of boasting. Seeing that many boast after the flesh, I also will boast, for ye gladly bear with the foolish, being yourselves wise, for ye bear with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes you, if one exalts himself, if one smites you on the face. I say it as a reproach, that we were weak, but in whatever anyone is bold, I say it in foolishness, I also am bold. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's seed? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as beside myself. I am more. In labours more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in prisons more abundantly, in deaths often. Of the Jews five times I received, forty stripes save one. Thrice I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have spent in the deep, by journeyings often, by perils of rivers, by perils of robbers, by perils from my countrymen, by perils from the heathen, by perils in the city, by perils in the wilderness, by perils in the sea, by perils among false brethren, by weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, there is that which comes upon me daily, the care of all the churches, who is weak and I am not weak, who is offended and I do not burn. If I must needs boast, I will boast of things which belong to my infirmity. God, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever more, knows that I lie not. In Damascus the governor under Oritas the king kept guard over the city of the Damocenes, wishing to apprehend me, and through a window I was let down in a basket through the wall, and escaped his hands. CHAPTER XII To boast is surely not expedient for me, for I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, whether in the body I know not, or whether out of the body I know not, God knows, such a one caught up even to the third heaven, and I know such a man, whether in the body or without the body I know not, God knows, that he was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such a one I will boast, but of myself I will not boast, save in my infirmities. For if I should desire to boast, I shall not be foolish, for I shall speak truth. But I forbear, lest anyone should reckon of me above what he sees me to be, or hears from me. And that I might not be exalted over much through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me that I might not be exalted over much. Concerning this I be sought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me, and he said to me, my grace is sufficient for thee, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may abide upon me. Wherefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake, for when I am weak, then I am powerful. I have become foolish, ye compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for in nothing was I behind these over much apostles, though I am nothing. Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience by signs and wonders and miracles. For what is there wherein ye were inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself was not a charge to you? Forgive me this wrong.  For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children, and I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls, though the more abundantly I love you the less I am loved. But be it so, I was not myself a charge to you, but yet being crafty, I caught you with guile. Did I make gain of you by any of those whom I have sent to you? I exhorted Titus to go and sent with him the brother. Did Titus make gain of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not in the same steps? Do ye again suppose that we are excusing ourselves to you? Before God and Christ we speak, and all beloved for your edification, for I fear lest happily when I come, I shall find you not such as I would, and I too shall be found by you such as ye would not, lest there be wranglings, enviings, wraths, rivalries, backbidings, whisperings, swellings, tumults, lest when I come again my God shall humble me among you, and I shall bewail many of those who have sinned before, and repented not of the uncleanness, and fornication, and wantonness which they committed. This third time I am coming to you, in the mouth of two witnesses and of three shall every word be established. I have before said, and now say beforehand, as when present the second time, so also now when absent, to those who here to for have sinned, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare, since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who toward you is not weak, but is mighty in you, for even if he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives by the power of God, for we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.  No ye not your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye are reprobate, but I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobate. Now I pray to God that ye do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that ye may do what is good, though we be as reprobate, for we have no power against the truth, but for the truth, for we are glad when we are weak and ye are powerful, this also we pray for, even your perfection. For this cause I write these things being absent, that when present I may not use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord gave me for edification, and not for destruction. Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the saints salute you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. THE END OF CHAPTERS 10 THROUGH 13 AND THE END OF THE SECOND LETTER OF PALL TO THE CORINTHIANS FROM THE AMERICAN BIBLE UNION'S NEW TESTAMENT RECORDING BY MARK PENFOLD CHAPTER 1 PALL, an apostle, not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father who raised him from the dead, and all the brethren who are with me, to the churches of Galatia, grace to you and peace, from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of the present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever, amen. I marvel that ye are so soon removing from him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different gospel, which is not another, except that there are some who trouble you and wish to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach a gospel to you contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be a cursed, as we have said before, so I now say again, if anyone preaches a gospel to you contrary to that which ye received, let him be a cursed, for do I now seek the favor of men or of God, or am I seeking to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I should not be Christ's servant. Now I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man, for I also did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but through the revelation of Jesus Christ. For ye heard of my conduct formerly in Judaism, that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God and was destroying it, and pressed forward in Judaism beyond many companions of the same age in my nation, being more exceedingly a zealot for the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me through his grace to reveal his son and me, that I should make known the glad news of him among the Gentiles, immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood, neither went up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but went away into Arabia and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas and remained with him fifteen days, but no other of the apostles did I see save James, the brother of the Lord. Now as to the things which I write to behold before God, I lie not. Afterward I came into the regions of Syria in Cilicia and was unknown by face to the churches of Judah which were in Christ, but they were only hearing that he who was once our persecutor now preaches the faith which once he was destroying, and they glorified God in me. Chapter 2 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking also Titus with me, and I went up by revelation and communicated to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those of reputation, lest by any means I should run or had run in vain, but not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised, and that because of the false brethren stealthily brought in, who crept in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage, to whom not even for an hour did we yield by the required submission that the truth of the gospel might continue with you, but from those reputed to be something, whatever they were it matters not to me, God accepts not man's person, for to me those of reputation communicated nothing in addition, but on the contrary, seeing that I have been entrusted with the gospel of the uncircumcision, as Peter was with that of the circumcision, for he who wrought for Peter in behalf of the apostleship of the circumcision, wrought also for me in behalf of the Gentiles, and having learned the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas right hands of fellowship that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcision, only that we should remember the poor, which very thing also I was forward to do, but when Cephas came to Antioch I withstood him to the face because he was blamed for before certain ones came from James, he ate with the Gentiles, but when they came he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision, and the other Jews also dissembled with him, so that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation, but when I saw that they walk not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in the presence of all, if thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles and not that of Jews, how dost thou compel the Gentiles to become as Jews? We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles, but knowing that a man is not justified by works of law but through faith in Jesus Christ, we also believed on Christ Jesus that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of law, because by works of law no flesh shall be justified, but if while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is then Christ a minister of sin? Far be it, for if the things which I pulled down, these I build up again, I make myself a transgressor, for I through law died to law that I might live to God, I have been crucified with Christ and no longer do I live, but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live in the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if there be righteousness through law, then Christ died without cause.  This only I desire to learn from you. Was it from works of law that he received the Spirit or from the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? Having begun with the Spirit, are ye now being made perfect with the flesh? Did ye suffer so many things in vain? If indeed it be in vain, does he therefore who supplies to you the Spirit and works miracles among you do it from works of law or from the hearing of faith? As Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him for righteousness, know then that they who are of faith, these are sons of Abraham and the scripture for seeing that God justifies the Gentiles by faith announced beforehand the glad tidings to Abraham saying, In thee shall all the nations be blessed, so that they who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham, for as many as are of works of law are under a curse, for it is written, cursed is everyone that continues not in all the things written in the book of the law to do them, and that in the law no one is justified with God is evident, because the just shall live by faith. Now the law is not of faith, but he that has done them shall live in them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, because it is written, cursed is everyone that is hanged on a tree, that unto the Gentiles the blessing of Abraham might come in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men. If a covenant has been confirmed, though it be a man's, no one sets it aside or adds there too. Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed, he says not, and to seeds, as concerning many, but as concerning one, and to thy seed, which is Christ. But this I say, that a covenant before confirmed by God, the law, which came 430 years after, does not annul to make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of law, it is no more of promise, but God has freely given it to Abraham by promise. What then is the law? It was added because of the transgressions, until the seed should come to whom the promise has been made, having been ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now the mediator is not of one, but God is one. Is then the law against the promises of God? Far be it. For if a law had been given, which is able to make alive, truly righteousness would have been of law. But the scripture shut up all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.  So that the law has become our school master unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But faith having come, we are no longer under a school master. For ye are all sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For all ye who were immersed unto Christ did put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek. There is neither bond nor free. There is no male and female. For ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye are Christ's, then our ye Abraham's seed heirs according to the promise. Chapter 4 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he differs in nothing from a servant, though he is Lord of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the Father. So also we, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under law, that he might redeem those under law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God sent forth the spirit of his Son into our hearts crying, Abba, Father, so that thou art no longer a servant, but a Son, and if a Son, also an heir through God. But at that time indeed, when ye knew not God, ye served those which are not in their nature, gods. But now, after having known God, or rather having been known by God, how is it that ye turn back again to the weak and poor elements to which ye desire to be in bondage again anew? Do ye carefully observe days and months and seasons and years? I am afraid of you lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain. Become as I am, for I also became as ye are, brethren, I beseech you. Ye injured me in nothing. Nay, ye know that by reason of weakness of the flesh I preached the glad tidings to you the former time. And my trial, which was in my flesh, ye despised not nor spurned, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. Where is then the happiness of which ye spoke? For I bear you witness that if possible, he would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.  They zealously seek you, not well, but they wish to exclude you that ye may zealously seek them. But it is good to be zealously sought in a good cause always, and not only when I am present with you, my little children of whom I travail again in birth until Christ be formed in you, and I could wish to be present with you now and to change my voice, for I am perplexed on account of you. Tell me, ye who desire to be under law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bond woman and one by the free woman, but the one by the bond woman was born after the flesh, and the one by the free woman through the promise, which things are an allegory, for these women are two covenants, one from Mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar, for the word Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that now is, for she is in bondage with her children, but the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all, for it is written, Rejoice thou barren that barris not, break forth and cry, thou that prevailest not, because many are the children of the desolate, rather than of her who has the husband. But ye, brethren, after the manner of Isaac, are children of promise, but as then, the one born after the flesh persecuted the one born after the spirit, so also is it now, but what says the scripture? Cast out the bond woman and her son, for the son of the bond woman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman. So then, brethren, we are not children of a bond woman, but of the free woman. Chapter 5 Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty with which Christ made us free, and be not again entangled with a yoke of bondage. Behold, I, Paul, say to you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. Now I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised, that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. Ye are separated from Christ, whoever of you are justified in the law. Ye are fallen away from grace, for we through the spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working by love. Ye were running well. Who hindered you that ye should not obey the truth? The persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence toward you and the Lord, that ye will be no otherwise minded, but he that troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he may be. But as for me, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then has the offense of the cross ceased.  For ye were called unto liberty, brethren, only use not the liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, in this. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, beware lest ye be consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the spirit, and ye will not fulfill the desire of the flesh. For the flesh has desires against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other, that ye may not do those things that ye would. But if ye are led by the spirit, ye are not under law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are fornication, uncleanness, wantonness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, emulation, wraths, contentions, divisions, factions, enviings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and things like these, of which I tell you beforehand, as I also said before, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Against such things there is no law, and they that are Christ's crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the spirit, let us also walk by the spirit. Let us not become vain, glorious, provoking one another, envying one another. Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if a man thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one prove his own work, and then shall he have ground of glorying in reference to himself alone, and not to another. For each one shall bear his own load. But let him that is taught in the word share with him that teaches in all good things. Be not deceived. God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap. Because he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption. But he that sows to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. See with what large letters I wrote to you with my own hand? As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, these constrain you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither do they themselves who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire that ye should be circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation, and as many as walk by this rule, peace beyond them, and mercy, and on the Israel of God. Henceforth let no one trouble me, for I bear the marks of Jesus in my body. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen. THE END OF the letter of Paul to the Galatians from the American Bible Union's New Testament Recording by Mark Penfold of Jesus Christ by the will of God to the saints who are in Ephesus and believers in Christ Jesus. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love. Having predestined us unto the adoption of sons by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the beloved, in whom we have the redemption through his blood, the remission of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and understanding, making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in himself, in reference to the dispensation of the fullness of times, to gather for himself into one all things in the Christ, the things which are in the heavens, and the things on the earth. In him in whom we obtained also the inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will, that we should be to the praise of his glory who before have hoped in the Christ, in whom ye also, after having heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, in whom I say having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is an earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of his glory. For this cause I also, having heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love to all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, would give to you the spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the full knowledge of him, the eyes of your heart being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead, and seated him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come, and subjected all things under his feet, and gave him to behead over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Chapter 2 You also, being dead in trespasses and sins, in which ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience, among whom we also all walked in time past in the desires of our flesh, doing the will of the flesh and of the mind, and whereby nature children of wrath, even as others, but God, being rich in mercy on account of his great love, wherewith he loved us, made us, even when we were dead in sins alive with Christ, by grace ye are saved, and raised us with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that he might show in the ages to come the exceeding richness of his grace in his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace ye are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast, for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God before prepared that we should walk in them, wherefore remember that in time past ye, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that which is called circumcision in the flesh made by hand, that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, ye who in time past were afar off, were made near by the blood of Christ, for he is our peace who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might make the two one new man in himself, making peace, and might reconcile both to God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby, and he came and brought the good news of peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near, because through him we both have the access in one spirit to the Father. So then ye are no longer strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom all the building, fitly framed together, grows unto a holy temple in the Lord, in whom ye also are build together for a habitation of God in the spirit. For this cause I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, if indeed ye heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given me toward you, that by revelation the mystery was made known to me as I wrote before in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the spirit, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and of the same body and partakers with us of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel. Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God which was given to me according to the working of his power. To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, was this grace given to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make all see what is the dispensation of the mystery which from ages has been hidden in God, who created all things, that now to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the Church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he made in Christ Jesus our Lord in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in him. Wherefore, I entreat that ye faint not at my afflictions for you, which is your glory. For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ from whom the whole family and heaven and on earth is named that he would grant to you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might through his spirit as to the inner man that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith having been rooted and grounded in love that ye may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge that ye may be filled unto all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us to him be the glory in the church in Christ Jesus throughout all ages world without end. Amen. Chapter 4 I the prisoner in the Lord exhort you therefore to walk worthy of the calling with which ye were called with all loneliness and meekness with long suffering bearing with one another in love endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace there is one body and one spirit as also ye were called in one hope of your calling one Lord one faith one immersion one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all but to each one of us the grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ wherefore he says when he ascended on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts to men now this he ascended what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth the one who descended he is also the one who ascended above all the heavens that he may fill all things and he gave some as apostles some as prophets some as evangelists some as pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry for the building up of the body of Christ till we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect man to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ that we may no longer be children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men by cunning craftiness after the wily manner of error but holding the truth may in love grow up into him in all things who is the head Christ from whom all the body fitly framed together and compacted by means of every joint of the supply according to the working in the measure of each single part affects the increase of the body to the building of itself in love this therefore I say and testify in the Lord that ye no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind having the understanding darkened being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them because of the hardness of their heart who as being past feeling gave themselves up to wantonness to work all uncleanness in greediness but ye did not so learn Christ if indeed ye heard him and were taught in him as the truth is in Jesus that ye put off as concerns your former deportment the old man who is corrupted according to the lusts of deceit and be renewed in the spirit of your mind and put on the new man who was created after God in the righteousness and holiness of the truth wherefore having put away falsehood speak truth each one with his neighbor because we are members one of another be angry and sin not let not the sun go down upon your wrath neither give peace to the devil let him that stole steal no more but rather let him labor working with his hands that which is good that he may have to impart to him that has need let no corrupt discourse proceed out of your mouth but whatever is good for needful edification that it may impart grace to the hearers and grieve not the holy spirit of God in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice and be kind to one another tender hearted forgiving one another as also God in Christ forgave you Chapter 5 Become therefore followers of God as beloved children and walk in love as also Christ loved us and gave himself up for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of sweet smell but fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness let it not even be named among you as become saints and filthiness and foolish talking and jesting which are not becoming but rather giving of thanks for this ye know being aware that no fornicator nor unclean person nor covetous man who is an idolater has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God let no one deceive you with vain words for because of these things comes the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience Become not therefore partakers with them for ye were once darkness but now light in the Lord walk as children of light for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth proving what is acceptable to the Lord and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather also reprove them for it is a shame even to speak of the things done by them in secret but all things when reproved are by the light made manifest for whatever makes manifest is light wherefore he says awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ will give thee light see to it then how ye walk with exactness not as unwise but as wise redeeming the time because the days are evil therefore be not foolish but understanding what is the will of the Lord and be not drunk with wine wherein is excess but be filled with the Spirit speaking to one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord giving thanks always for all things to God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ submitting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ wives to their own husbands as to the Lord because a husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church himself the savior of the body but as the church is subjected to Christ so also are the wives to their own husbands in everything husbands love your wives as also Christ loved the church and gave himself up for it that he might sanctify it having cleansed it by the bathing of water in the word that he might himself present to himself the church glorious having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it may be holy and blameless so husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies he that loves his wife loves himself for no one ever hated his own flesh but nourishes and cherishes it as also Christ the church because we are members of his body being of his flesh and of his bones for this cause shall a man leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife and the two shall be one flesh this mystery is great but i am speaking of Christ and of the church nevertheless do ye also severally each so love his wife even as himself and let the wife see that she reverence her husband chapter six children obey your parents in the lord for this is right honor thy father and mother which is the first commandment with promise that it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long on the earth and fathers do not provoke your children to anger but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the lord servants obey your masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling in singleness of your heart as to Christ not with eye service as men pleasers but as servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart with good will doing service as to the lord and not to men knowing that whatever good thing each may have done that he shall receive from the lord whether bond or free and masters do the same things to them for bearing threatening knowing that both their master and yours is in heaven and there is no respect of persons with him finally be strong in the lord and in the power of his might put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil for to us the contest is not against flesh and blood but against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly places therefore take on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having fully done all to stand stand therefore having girded your loins about with truth and having put on the breast plate of righteousness and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace in addition to all having taken on the shield of faith in which he will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one and receive the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God praying at every fitting season in the spirit with all prayer and supplication and watching therein too with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints and for me that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth with boldness to make known the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in bonds that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak but that ye also may know my affairs how I do tychicus the beloved brother and a faithful minister in the Lord will make all known to you whom I sent to you for this very thing that ye might know our affairs and that he might encourage your hearts peace be to the brethren and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity the end of the letter of Paul to the Ephesians from the American Bible Union's New Testament recording by Mark Penfold the letter of Paul to the Philippians from the American Bible Union's New Testament this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Mark Penfold the letter of Paul to the Philippians Chapter 1 Paul and Timothy servants of Jesus Christ to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi with the overseers and deacons grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ I thank my God on every remembrance of you always in every supplication of mine making the supplication for you all with joy for your fellowship in respect to the gospel from the first day until now being confident of this very thing that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ as it is just for me to think this of you all because I have you in my heart being all of you both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel partakers of the grace with me for God is my witness how greatly I long for you all with the tender affection of Jesus Christ and this I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment in order that he may approve the things that are most excellent that he may be pure and without offense unto the day of Christ being filled with the fruit of righteousness which is by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God but I desire that you should know brethren that the things which befell me have resulted rather in the furtherance of the gospel so that my bonds have become manifest in Christ in all the Praetorium and to all the rest and that the greater part of the brethren made confident in the Lord by my bonds are much more bold to speak the word without fear some indeed preach Christ also from envy and strife but some also from good will the one out of love knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel the other out of contentiousness proclaim Christ not with pure intent supposing that they shall add affliction to my bonds what then? not withstanding in every way whether in pretense or in truth Christ is proclaimed and therein I rejoice yea and shall rejoice for I know that this will turn out for my salvation through your supplication and the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ according to my earnest expectation and hope that I shall in nothing be put to shame but that with all boldness as always so also now Christ shall be magnified in my body whether by life or by death for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain but if it be to live in the flesh this to me is fruit of labor and which I shall choose I know not but am constrained by the two having the desire to depart and to be with Christ for it is far better but to remain in the flesh is more needful for your sakes and being persuaded of this I know that I shall remain and shall continue with you all for your furtherance and joy in the faith that your glorying may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me through my coming to you again only let your deportment be as becomes the gospel of Christ that whether I come and see you or remain absent I may hear of your affairs that ye stand fast in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel and in nothing terrified by the adversaries which is to them an evident token of perdition but to you of salvation and that from God because to you it was granted in behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but in his behalf to suffer also having the same conflict as ye saw in me and now hear of in me Chapter 2 If then there is any consolation in Christ if any comfort from love if any communion of the spirit if any tender affection and compassion make my joy complete that ye be of the same mind having the same love being of one accord of the one mind doing nothing through contentiousness or vain glory but in loneliness of mind each esteeming others better than himself regarding not each one his own but each one also the things of others let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God did not accounted robbery to be equal with God but emptied himself taking the form of a servant being made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself becoming obedient unto death even the death of the cross wherefore also God highly exalted him and gave him a name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of beings in heaven and of beings on earth and of beings under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father wherefore my beloved as ye always obeyed not as in my presence only but now much more in my absence work out your own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you both to will and to perform of his good pleasure do all without murmurings and disputings that ye may become blameless and simple children of God unreproachable in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom ye appear as do the heavenly lights in the world holding forth the word of life for a ground of glorying to me at the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor in vain but even if I am poured out on the sacrifice and ministration of your faith I rejoice and I rejoice with you all for the same cause do ye also rejoice and rejoice with me but I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly to you that I also may be cheered when I know your state for I have no one like-minded who will sincerely care for your state for all seek their own not the things of Jesus Christ but ye know the proof of him that as a child with a father he served with me for the gospel him therefore I hope to send without delay so soon as I shall see how it will go with me but I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and companion in labor and fellow soldier but your messenger and minister to my once for he was longing after you all and was much distressed because ye heard that he was sick for indeed he was sick near to death but God had mercy on him and not on him only but on me also that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow I send him therefore with the more haste that seeing him again he might rejoice and that I may be less sorrowful receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness and hold such an honor because for the work of Christ he came near to death hazarding his life that he might supply what things were lacking on your part of the ministration to me Chapter 3 Finally my brethren rejoice in the Lord to write the same things to you to me is not burdensome and for you it is safe beware of the dogs beware of the evil workers beware of the concision for we are the circumcision who worshiped by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh though I have confidence also in the flesh if any other thinks that he has confidence in the flesh I more circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin a Hebrew of Hebrews as to the law a Pharisee as to zeal persecuting the church as to the righteousness which is in the law blameless but what things were gained to me these I have accounted lost for Christ nay more and I account all things to be lost for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I suffered the loss of all things and account them refuse that I may gain Christ and be found in him not having my own righteousness which is of law but that which is through faith in Christ the righteousness which is of God upon faith that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being conformed to his death if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead not that I already obtained the prize or have already been perfected but I pursue onward if I may lay hold of that for which I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus brethren I do not count myself to have laid hold of it but one thing I do for getting the things behind and reaching forth to the things before I pursue on toward the mark for the prize of the heavenly calling of God in Christ Jesus let us therefore as many as are perfect be of this mind and if in anything ye are otherwise minded this also God will reveal to you nevertheless where to we have attained in the same let us walk brethren be followers together of me and mark those who so walk as ye have us for an example for many walk of whom I told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ whose end is destruction whose God is their belly and whose glory is in their shame who mind earthly things for our citizenship is in heaven from whence we also look for a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ who will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of His glory according to the working with which He is able also to subject all things to Himself Chapter 4 therefore my brethren beloved and longed for my joy and crown so stand fast in the Lord beloved I beseech Euodia and I beseech Sintakey to be of the same mind in the Lord yea I entreat the also true Yoke fellow help these women who labored with me in the Gospel with Clement also in the rest of my fellow laborers whose names are in the book of life rejoice in the Lord always again I will say rejoice let your forbearance be known to all men the Lord is at hand be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus finally brethren whatever things are true whatever things are honorable whatever things are just whatever things are pure whatever things are lovely whatever things are of good report if there be any virtue and if there be any praise think on these things the things also which ye learned and received and heard and saw in me these do and the God of peace will be with you but I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length ye revived again in your care for my welfare for which ye were also careful but lacked opportunity not that I speak in respect of want for I learned in whatever state I am to be content I both know how to be abased and I know how to abound in everything and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and to be in want I can do all things in him who strengthens me not withstanding ye did well to share with me in my affliction and ye also know Philippians that in the beginning of the gospel when I went forth from Macedonia no church communicated with me in an account of giving and receiving but ye only that also in Thessalonica ye sent once and again to my necessity not that I seek for the gift but I seek for the fruit that abounds to your account but I have all and abound I am full having received of Epaphroditus the things sent from you an odor of sweet smell a sacrifice acceptable well pleasing to God but my God will supply all your need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus now to God and our Father be the glory for ever and ever ah men salute every saint in Christ Jesus the brethren who are with me salute you all the saints salute you but especially they that are at Caesar's household the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirits the end of the letter of Paul to the Philippians from the American Bible Union's New Testament recording by Mark Penfold the letter of Paul to the Colossians from the American Bible Union's New Testament this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Mark Penfold the letter of Paul to the Colossians Chapter 1 Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God and Timothy the brother to the saints in Colossae and faithful brethren in Christ grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ we give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ praying always for you having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which he have toward all the saints because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven of which he heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel which has come to you as also in all the world and is bringing forth fruit and increasing also in you since the day ye heard it and knew the grace of God in truth as ye learn from Epaphros our beloved fellow servant who is for you a faithful minister of Christ who also made known to us your love in the spirit for this cause we also since the day we heard it do not cease to pray for you and to ask that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding that ye may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing bringing forth fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God being strengthened with all strength according to his glorious power unto all patience and long suffering with joy giving thanks to the Father who made us meet for the portion of the inheritance of the saints in light who delivered us out of the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love in whom we have the redemption the remission of our sins who is the image of the invisible God the firstborn of every creature because in him were all things created the things in the heavens and the things on the earth the visible and the invisible whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers all things have been created by him and for him and he is before all things and in him all things subsist and he is the head of the body the church who is the beginning the firstborn from the dead that he may become in all things preeminent for he was pleased that in him should all the fullness dwell and through him to reconcile all things to himself having made peace through the blood of his cross through him whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens and you also being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in wicked works yet now has he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and blameless and unaccused before him if indeed he continue in the faith grounded and settled and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which he heard which was preached in the whole creation which is under heaven of which I Paul was made a minister now I rejoice in my sufferings for you and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body which is the church of which I was made a minister according to the dispensation of God which was given to me for you to fulfill the word of God the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations but now has been manifested to his saints to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory whom we announce warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ to which and I also labor striving according to his working which works in me with power Chapter 2 For I would have you know how great a conflict I have for you and for those in Laodicea and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh that their hearts might be encouraged they being knit together in love and unto all the riches of the full assurance of the understanding unto the full knowledge of the mystery of God even Christ in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden and this I say that no one may be guile you with enticing words for though I am absent in the flesh yet in the spirit I am with you rejoicing and beholding your order and the steadfastness of your faith toward Christ as therefore ye received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk in him having been rooted and being built up in him and being established in the faith as ye were taught abounding therein with thanksgiving beware lest there shall be anyone that despoils you through philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of men after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ because in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily and ye are made complete in him who is the head of all principality and power in whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands in the putting off of the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ being buried with him in the immersion wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God who raised him from the dead and you also being dead in your trespasses in the uncircumcision of your flesh he made alive together with him graciously forgiving us all our trespasses blotting out the handwriting in ordinances that was against us which was opposed to us and he has taken it out of the way nailing it to the cross despoiling principalities and powers he made a show of them openly try umphing over them in it let not anyone therefore judge you in food or in drink or in respect of a feast day or of a new moon or of a Sabbath which are a shadow of the things to come but the body is of Christ let no one defraud you of the prize seeking it in humiliation and worship of the angels intruding into things which he has not seen vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind and not holding fast the head from whom all the body by means of the joints and bands having nourishment ministered and being knit together increases with the increase of God if ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world why as though living in the world are ye subject to ordinances handle not nor taste nor touch which are all to perish with the using after the commandments and teachings of men which things have indeed a show of wisdom and self-chosen worship and humiliation and neglecting of the body not in any honor for the satisfying of the flesh chapter three if then you were raised together with Christ seek the things above where Christ is sitting on the right hand of God set your mind on the things above not on the things upon the earth for ye died and your life is hid with Christ in God when Christ our life shall be manifested then will ye also with him be manifested in glory mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth fornication uncleanness passion evil desire and covetousness which is idolatry on account of which things the wrath of God comes on the sons of disobedience in which ye also once walked when ye lived in these things do ye also put all away anger wrath malice reviling filthy communication out of your mouth lie not one to another seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds and have put on the new man who is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him who created him where there is no Greek and Jew circumcision and uncircumcision barbarian Scythian bondman freeman but Christ is all and in all put on therefore as God's chosen holy and beloved bowels of compassion kindness lowliness of mind meekness long suffering for bearing one another and freely forgiving each other if anyone have a complaint against any even as Christ freely forgave you so also do ye and over all these love which is the bond of perfectness and let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts to which ye were also called in one body and be thankful let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with Psalms hymns spiritual songs in grace singing in your hearts to God and whatever ye do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through him wives submit yourselves to your own husbands as is fitting in the Lord husbands love your wives and be not bitter toward them children obey your parents and all things for this is well pleasing in the Lord fathers provoke not your children that they be not discouraged servants obey and all things your masters according to the flesh not with eye service as men pleasers but in singleness of heart fearing the Lord whatever ye do do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men knowing that from the Lord ye will receive the recompense of the inheritance serve the Lord Christ for he that does wrong will receive that which he did wrongfully and there is no respect of persons Chapter 4 Masters render to your servants that which is just and equal knowing that ye also have a master in heaven persevere in prayer being watchful therein with thanksgiving at the same time praying also for us that God would open to us a door for the word to speak the mystery of Christ for the sake of which I am also in bonds that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak walk in wisdom toward those without redeeming the time let your speech be always with grace seasoned with salt that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man all my affairs will tecacus make known to you the beloved brother and a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord whom I sent to you for this very purpose that he may know your condition and may comfort your hearts together with Onesimus the faithful and beloved brother who is one of you they will make known to you all the things here Aristarchus my fellow prisoner salutes you and mark the cousin of Barnabas concerning whom ye received commands if he come to you receive him and Jesus who is called Justus who are of the circumcision these only are my fellow workers for the kingdom of God who have been a comfort to me Apaphras who is one of you a servant of Christ Jesus salutes you always striving for you in his prayers that ye may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God for I bear him witness that he is much concerned for you and those in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis Luke the beloved physician and Demas salute you salute the brethren in Laodicea and Nymphus and the church in his house and when the letter has been read among you cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans and that he also read that from Laodicea and say to Archipus take heed to the ministry which thou didst receive in the Lord that thou fulfill it the salutation by the hand of me Paul remember my bonds Grace be with you the end of the letter of Paul to the Colossians from the American Bible Union's New Testament recording by Mark Penfold the first letter of Paul to the Thessalonians from the American Bible Union's New Testament this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Mark Penfold the first letter of Paul to the Thessalonians chapter one Paul and Sylvainus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ Grace to you and peace we give thanks to God always for you all making mention of you and our prayers remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ before God and our Father knowing brethren beloved of God your election because our gospel came not to you in word only but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance as you know what manner of men were we among you for your sake and ye became followers of us and of the Lord having received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Spirit so that ye became an example to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia for from you has sounded forth the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth so that we have no need to speak anything for they themselves report concerning us what matter of entrance we had to you and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Son from heaven whom he raised from the dead Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come Chapter 2 for yourselves brethren know our entrance to you that it has not become vain but having before suffered and been shamefully treated as ye know at Philippi we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict for our exhortation is not of error nor of uncleanness nor in guile but as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel so we speak not as pleasing men but God who proves our hearts for neither at any time used we flattering words as ye know nor a cloak of covetousness God is witness nor of men sought we glory neither from you nor from others though able to use authority as Christ's apostles but we were gentle among you as a nurse cherishes her children so being affectionately desirous of you we were willing to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own souls because ye were dear to us for ye remember brethren our labor and toil night and day working in order not to burden any of you we preached to you the gospel of God ye are witnesses and God how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves to you that believe as ye know how we exhorted and encouraged and charged every one of you as a father his children that ye should walk worthy of God who is calling you into his kingdom and glory for this cause we also thank God without ceasing that when ye received the word of God heard from us ye received not the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God which also works in you that believe for ye brethren became followers of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus for ye also suffered the same things of your own countrymen as they have of the Jews who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and drove us forth and please not God and our contrary to all men hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved to fill up their sins always and the wrath come upon them to the utmost but we brethren having been severed from you for a short time in presence not in heart endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire wherefore we would fain have come to you even I, Paul, once and again and Satan hindered us for what is our hope or joy or crown of glorying are not also ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming for ye are our glory and joy Chapter 3 wherefore when we could no longer forbear we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone and sent Timothy our brother and a fellow worker with God in the gospel of Christ to establish you and to exhort you concerning your faith that no one should be shaken by these afflictions for yourselves know that unto this we are appointed for even when we were with you we told you before that we are to suffer affliction as also it came to pass and ye know for this cause when I too could no longer forbear I sent to know your faith lest by some means the tempter tempted you and our labor should be in vain but now when Timothy came to us from you and brought us good tidings of your faith and love and that ye have good remembrance of us always desiring greatly to see us as we also to see you for this cause we were consoled brethren over you in all our affliction and distress through your faith because now we live if ye stand fast in the Lord for what thanks can we render to God for you for all the joy wherewith we rejoice for your sakes before our God night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith now God and our Father himself and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way to you and the Lord make you increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all as we also do toward you to the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God and our Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints Chapter 4 furthermore then brethren we beseech you and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that as ye received from us how ye ought to walk and to please God as also ye are walking ye would abound yet more for ye know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus for this is the will of God your sanctification that ye abstain from fornication that each one of you know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor not in lustful passion as also the Gentiles who know not God that no one go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter because the Lord is the Avenger for all these things as we also told you before and testified for God did not call us to uncleanness but in sanctification therefore he that rejects rejects not man but God who also gave to you his holy spirit but concerning brotherly love ye need not that I write to you for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another for indeed ye do it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia but we beseech you brethren to abound yet more and to study to be quiet and to do your own business and to work with your own hands as we command in you that ye may walk becomingly toward those without and may have need of nothing but we desire that you should not be ignorant brethren concerning those who are sleeping that ye sorrow not as others who have no hope for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again so also those who fell asleep through Jesus will God bring with him for this we say to you in the word of the Lord that we the living who remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede those who fell asleep because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout with a voice of the archangel and with a trump of God and the dead in Christ will rise first then we the living who remain will be caught up together with them in clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord wherefore encourage one another with these words Chapter 5 But of the times and the seasons brethren ye have no need that I write to you for yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night for when they shall say peace and safety then sudden destruction comes upon them as travail upon a woman with child and they shall not escape but ye brethren are not in darkness that the day should overtake you as a thief for all ye are sons of light and sons of day we are not of night nor of darkness so then let us not sleep as others but let us watch and be sober for they that sleep sleep in the night and they that are drunken are drunken in the night but let us being of the day be sober putting on the breastplate of faith and love and for a helmet the hope of salvation because God did not appoint us to wrath but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him wherefore encourage each other and edify one the other as also ye do and we beseech you brethren to know those who labor among you and preside over you and the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake be at peace among yourselves now we exhort you brethren admonish the unruly comfort the feeble-minded support the weak be long-suffering toward all see that none render evil for evil to anyone but ever follow that which is good both toward one another and toward all rejoice always pray without ceasing in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you quench not the spirit despise not prophesyings but prove all things hold fast that which is good abstain from every form of evil and the God of peace himself sanctify you holy and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved whole without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ faithful is he who calls you who also will do it brethren pray for us salute all the brethren with a holy kiss I adjure you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy brethren the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you the end of the first letter of Paul to the Thessalonians from the American Bible Union's New Testament recording by Mark Penfold the second letter of Paul to the Thessalonians from the American Bible Union's New Testament this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Mark Penfold the second letter of Paul to the Thessalonians chapter one Paul and Sylvainus and Timothy to the Church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ we are bound to thank God always for you brethren as it is meat because your faith grows exceedingly and the love of each one of you all toward one another abounds so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and the afflictions which ye endure a token of the righteous judgment of God that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God for which ye also suffer since it is a righteous thing with God to recompense affliction to those who afflict you and to you who are afflicted rest with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who know not God and those who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall suffer justice eternal destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power when he shall come to be glorified in his saints and to be admired in all who believed because our testimony to you was believed in that day to which end we also pray for you always that our God may count you worthy of the calling and accomplish all the good pleasure of goodness and the work of faith with power that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you and ye in him according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ Chapter 2 Now we beseech you brethren concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to him that ye be not hastily shaken in mind or be troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as through us as that the day of the Lord is at hand let not anyone deceive you in any manner because that day will not come except there come first the falling away and the man of sin be revealed the son of perdition he that opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped so that he sits in the temple of God showing himself that he is God remember ye not that when I was yet with you I told you these things and now ye know what withholds in order that he may be revealed in his own time for the mystery of iniquity is already working only until he who now withholds shall be out of the way and then will the lawless one be revealed whom the Lord Jesus will consume with the breath of his mouth and will destroy with the manifestation of his coming him whose coming is after the working of Satan in all power and signs and lying wonders and in all deceit of unrighteousness for those who perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved and for this cause God sends them a working of delusion in order that they may believe the lie that they may all be judged who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness but we are bound to give thanks to God always for you brethren beloved of the Lord because God from the beginning chose you to salvation in sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth wherein to he called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ so then brethren stand fast and hold the traditions which he were taught whether by word or by our letter now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God and our father who loved us and gave us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace encourage your hearts and establish you in every good work and word Chapter 3 Finally brethren pray for us that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified as also with you and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil men for all have not the faith but faithful is the Lord who will establish you and guard you from evil and we have confidence in the Lord concerning you that ye both do and will do the things which we command you and the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ now we command you brethren in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother walking disorderly and not after the tradition which they received from us for yourselves know how ye ought to follow us that we were not disorderly among you nor did we eat bread of anyone for not but with labor and toil working night and day that we might not be burdensome to any of you not because we have not power but to make ourselves an example to you that ye should follow us for also when we were with you this we commanded you if any will not work neither let him eat for we hear of some who walk among you disorderly working not at all but our busy bodies now such we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ that with quietness working they eat their own bread but ye brethren be not weary and well doing and if anyone obeys not our word by this letter mark that man and keep not company with him that he may be shamed and count him not as an enemy but admonish him as a brother now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always in every way the Lord be with you all the salutation of Paul with my own hand which is a token in every letter so I write the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all the end of the second letter of Paul to the Thessalonians from the American Bible Union's New Testament recording by Mark Penfold the first letter of Paul to Timothy from the American Bible Union's New Testament this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Mark Penfold the first letter of Paul to Timothy from the American Bible Union's New Testament chapter one Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior and Christ Jesus our hope to Timothy a true child in the faith grace mercy peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord as I besought thee to remain still in Ephesus when I was going into Macedonia that thou mightest charge certain ones not to teach other doctrine nor to give heed to fables and endless genealogies which further disputes rather than God's dispensation which is in faith so do now the end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfaigned from which some swerving turned aside to idle prattling desiring to be teachers of the law understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm but we know that the law is good if a man use it lawfully knowing this that the law is not made for a righteous man but for the lawless and unruly for the ungodly and sinful for the unholy and profane for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers for manslayers for fornicators for those who defile themselves with mankind for enslavers of men for liars for false swervers and whatever else is contrary to the sound teachings according to the glorious gospel of the blissful God with which I was entrusted and I thank him who gave me strength Christ Jesus our Lord that he accounted me faithful putting me into the ministry who was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and overbearing but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief and the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus faithful is the saying and worthy of all acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief but for this cause I obtained mercy that in me first Christ Jesus might show forth all his long suffering for a pattern to those who should hear after believe on him to life everlasting now to the king eternal the imperishable invisible only God be honor and glory forever and ever Amen this charge I commit to thee my child Timothy according to the prophecies which went before concerning thee that thou mayest wage in them the good warfare having faith and a good conscience which some thrusting away made shipwreck concerning the faith of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander whom I delivered over to Satan that they might be taught not to blaspheme chapter two I exhort then first of all that supplications prayers intercessions thanksgivings be made for all men for kings and all that are in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and decorum for this is good and acceptable in the sight of our savior God who desires that all should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth for there is one God one mediator also between God and men the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time where and to I was appointed a preacher and an apostle I speak truth I lie not a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth I desire therefore that the men pray in every place lifting up holy hands without wrath and disputing in like manner also that women in becoming apparel adorn themselves with modesty and sobriety not in braided hair or gold or pearls or costly raiment but which becomes women professing godliness by means of good works let the woman learn in silence with all subjection but I permit not the woman to teach nor to have authority over the man but to be in silence for Adam was first formed then Eve and Adam was not deceived but the woman being deceived has fallen into transgression but she shall be saved through childbearing if they continue in faith and love and holiness with sobriety Chapter 3 faithful is the saying if anyone desires the office of overseer he desires a good work the overseer then must be blameless the husband of one wife sober discreet orderly, hospitable, apt in teaching not given to wine not a striker but forbearing a verse to strife not a lover of money presiding well over his own house having his children in subjection with all decorum but if one knows not how to preside over his own house how shall he take care of the church of god not a novice lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil but he must also have a good testimony from those without lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil deacons in like manner must be grave not double-tongued not given too much wine not greedy of gain holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience and let these also first be proved then let them serve as deacons being without reproach their wives in like manner must be grave not slanderers sober faithful in all things let the deacons be husbands of one wife presiding well over their children and their own houses for they that have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good degree and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus these things I write to thee hoping to come to thee shortly but if I tarry long that thou mayest know how thou autest to conduct thyself in the house of god which is the church of the living god the pillar and ground of the truth and confessedly great is the mystery of godliness God was manifested in the flesh was justified in the spirit was seen by angels was preached among the Gentiles was believed on in the world was received up in glory Chapter 4 Now the spirit says expressly that in aftertimes some will depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and teachings of demons of those who speak lies in hypocrisy having their conscience seared with a hot iron forbidding to marry commanding to abstain from food which god created to be received with thanksgiving for those who believe and know the truth for every creature of god is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving for it is sanctified by the word of god and prayer if thou put the brethren in mind of these things thou shalt be a good minister of Christ Jesus nurtured in the words of the faith and of the good teaching which thou hast strictly followed but the profane and silly fables avoid and exercise thy self unto godliness for bodily exercise is profitable for little but godliness is profitable for all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come faithful is the saying and worthy of all acceptance for to this end we both labor and suffer reproach because we have hoped in the living god who is the savior of all men especially of believers these things command and teach let no one despise thy youth but become an example of the believers in word, in deportment, in love, in faith, in purity till I come give attention to reading to exhortation to teaching neglect not the gift that is in thee which was given thee through prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership meditate on these things give thyself holy to them that thy progress may be manifest to all give he to thyself and to the teaching continuing them for in doing this thou wilt save both thyself and those who hear thee Chapter 5 Rebuke not an elder but entreat him as a father younger men as brethren elder women as mothers the younger as sisters with all purity honor as widows those who are widows indeed but if any widow has children or grandchildren let these learn first to show piety to their own household and to requite their parents for this is acceptable before God now she that is a widow indeed and left alone has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day but she that lives in pleasure is dead while she lives and these things command that they may be blameless but if anyone provides not for his own and especially for those of his own house he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever let not one be enrolled as a widow under three score years old having been the wife of one husband well reported of for good works if she brought up children if she lodged strangers if she washed the feet of the saints if she relieved the afflicted if she diligently followed every good work but younger widows refuse for when they have become wanton against christ they desire to marry having condemnation because they broke their first faith and at the same time they also learn to be idle going about from house to house and not only idle but tattlers also in busy bodies speaking things which they ought not I desire therefore that younger widows marry bear children guide the house give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully for already some turned aside after satan if any believing man or woman has widows let them relieve them and let not the church be burdened that it may relieve those who are widows indeed let elders who preside well be counted worthy of double honor especially they who labor in the word and teaching for the scripture says thou shalt not muzzle an ox while treading out the grain and the laborer is worthy of his hire against an elder receive not an accusation except before two or three witnesses those whose sin rebuke before all that the rest also may fear I charge thee before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels that thou observe these things without pre-judging doing nothing with partiality lay hands hastily on no one neither share in other men's sins keep thy self pure no longer drink water only but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and for thy frequent infirmities the sins of some men are openly manifest going before to judgment and some men they follow after in like manner also the good works are openly manifest and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden Chapter 6 Let as many as our servants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor that the name of God and the teaching be not blasphemed and they that have believing masters let them not despise them because they are brethren but the rather do them service because they who receive the benefit are faithful and beloved these things teach and exhort if anyone teaches otherwise and a sense not to sound words the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the teaching which is according to godliness he is puffed up with pride knowing nothing but doting about questions and stripes of words whereof comes envy strife railings evil surmises vain disputings of men corrupted in mind and robbed of the truth supposing that godliness is a means of gain but godliness with contentment is a great means of gain for we brought nothing into the world it is certain we can also carry nothing out and having food and raiment let us be there with content but they who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts which sink men into destruction and perdition for the love of money is a root of all evils which some coveting after wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows but thou, O man of God flee these things and follow after righteousness godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness of spirit fight the good fight of the faith lay hold on the eternal life unto which thou west called and it's to make the good profession before many witnesses I charge thee in the sight of God who preserves all alive and of Jesus Christ who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good profession that thou keep the commandment without spot blameless until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ which in his own times he will show who is the blissful and only potentate the king of kings and Lord of lords who only has immortality dwelling in light unapproachable whom no man has seen or can see to whom be honor and power everlasting O man charge those who are rich in this world that they be not high-minded nor place their hope on the uncertainty of riches but in God who gives us all things richly for enjoyment that they do good be rich in good works be free in imparting willing to communicate laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on the true life O Timothy keep that which is committed to thy trust avoid the profane babblings and oppositions of that which is falsely called knowledge which some professing aired concerning the faith Grace be with thee The end of the first letter of Paul to Timothy from the American Bible Union's New Testament Recording by Mark