The Priceless Value Of Knowing Christ (Philippians 3:1-11) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1    Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.

2    Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. 

3    For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, 

4    though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!

5    I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. 

6    I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.

7    I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 

8    Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 

9    and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

10  I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 

11  so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    In conclusion, my friends, be joyful in your union with the Lord. I don't mind repeating what I have written before, and you will be safer if I do so. 

2    Watch out for those who do evil things, those dogs, those who insist on cutting the body. 

3    It is we, not they, who have received the true circumcision, for we worship God by means of his Spirit and rejoice in our life in union with Christ Jesus. We do not put any trust in external ceremonies. 

4    I could, of course, put my trust in such things. If any of you think you can trust in external ceremonies, I have even more reason to feel that way. 

5    I was circumcised when I was a week old. I am an Israelite by birth, of the tribe of Benjamin, a pure-blooded Hebrew. As far as keeping the Jewish Law is concerned, I was a Pharisee, 

6    and I was so zealous that I persecuted the church. As far as a person can be righteous by obeying the commands of the Law, I was without fault. 

7    But all those things that I might count as profit I now reckon as loss for Christ's sake. 

8    Not only those things; I reckon everything as complete loss for the sake of what is so much more valuable, the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have thrown everything away; I consider it all as mere garbage, so that I may gain Christ 

9    and be completely united with him. I no longer have a righteousness of my own, the kind that is gained by obeying the Law. I now have the righteousness that is given through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God and is based on faith. 

10  All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death, 

11  in the hope that I myself will be raised from death to life.

Shine Brightly For Christ (Philippians 2:12-18) New Living & Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

12  Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 

13  For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

14  Do everything without complaining and arguing, 

15  so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 

16  Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. 

17  But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. 

18  Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

12  So then, dear friends, as you always obeyed me when I was with you, it is even more important that you obey me now while I am away from you. Keep on working with fear and trembling to complete your salvation, 
13  because God is always at work in you to make you willing and able to obey his own purpose.
14  Do everything without complaining or arguing, 
15  so that you may be innocent and pure as God's perfect children, who live in a world of corrupt and sinful people. You must shine among them like stars lighting up the sky, 
16  as you offer them the message of life. If you do so, I shall have reason to be proud of you on the Day of Christ, because it will show that all my effort and work have not been wasted.
17  Perhaps my life's blood is to be poured out like an offering on the sacrifice that your faith offers to God. If that is so, I am glad and share my joy with you all. 
18  In the same way, you too must be glad and share your joy with me.

Have The Attitude Of Christ (Philippians 2:1-11) New Living & Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1    Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 

2    Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

3    Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

4    Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

5    You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6    Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

7    Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.  When he appeared in human form,

8    he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9    Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,

10  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    Your life in Christ makes you strong, and his love comforts you. You have fellowship with the Spirit, and you have kindness and compassion for one another. 

2    I urge you, then, to make me completely happy by having the same thoughts, sharing the same love, and being one in soul and mind. 

3   Don't do anything from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast, but be humble toward one another, always considering others better than yourselves. 

4   And look out for one another's interests, not just for your own. 

5   The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had:

6   He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to remain equal with God.

7   Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant.  He became like a human being and appeared in human likeness.

8   He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death—his death on the cross.

9   For this reason God raised him to the highest place above and gave him the name that is greater than any other name.

10  And so, in honor of the name of Jesus all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will fall on their knees,

11  and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

To Live Is Christ (Philippians 1:12-30) New Living & Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

12  And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 

13  For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ.

14  And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.

15  It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. 

16  They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. 

17  Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. 

18  But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. 

19  For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.

20  For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. 

21  For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 

22  But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 

23  I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 

24  But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.

25  Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. 

26  And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me.

27  Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. 

28  Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. 

29  For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. 

30  We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
12  I want you to know, my friends, that the things that have happened to me have really helped the progress of the gospel.
13  As a result, the whole palace guard and all the others here know that I am in prison because I am a servant of Christ. 
14  And my being in prison has given most of the believers more confidence in the Lord, so that they grow bolder all the time to preach the message fearlessly.
15  Of course some of them preach Christ because they are jealous and quarrelsome, but others from genuine good will. 
16  These do so from love, because they know that God has given me the work of defending the gospel.
17  The others do not proclaim Christ sincerely, but from a spirit of selfish ambition; they think that they will make more trouble for me while I am in prison.
18  It does not matter! I am happy about it—just so Christ is preached in every way possible, whether from wrong or right motives. And I will continue to be happy, 
19  because I know that by means of your prayers and the help which comes from the Spirit of Jesus Christ I shall be set free. 
20  My deep desire and hope is that I shall never fail in my duty, but that at all times, and especially right now, I shall be full of courage, so that with my whole being I shall bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.
21  For what is life? To me, it is Christ. Death, then, will bring more. 
22  But if by continuing to live I can do more worthwhile work, then I am not sure which I should choose.
23  I am pulled in two directions. I want very much to leave this life and be with Christ, which is a far better thing; 
24  but for your sake it is much more important that I remain alive. 
25  I am sure of this, and so I know that I will stay. I will stay on with you all, to add to your progress and joy in the faith, 
26  so that when I am with you again, you will have even more reason to be proud of me in your life in union with Christ Jesus.
27  Now, the important thing is that your way of life should be as the gospel of Christ requires, so that, whether or not I am able to go and see you, I will hear that you are standing firm with one common purpose and that with only one desire you are fighting together for the faith of the gospel. 
28  Don't be afraid of your enemies; always be courageous, and this will prove to them that they will lose and that you will win, because it is God who gives you the victory. 
29  For you have been given the privilege of serving Christ, not only by believing in him, but also by suffering for him. 
30  Now you can take part with me in the battle. It is the same battle you saw me fighting in the past, and as you hear, the one I am fighting still.

The Whole Armor Of God (Ephesians 6:10-20) New Living & Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

10  A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 

11  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 

12  For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

13  Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 

14  Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 

15  For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.

16  In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.

17  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18  Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

19  And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.

20  I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
10  Finally, build up your strength in union with the Lord and by means of his mighty power. 
11  Put on all the armor that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil's evil tricks.
12  For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age. 
13  So put on God's armor now! Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy's attacks; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground.
14  So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate,
15  and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace. 
16  At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One. 
17  And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you. 
18  Do all this in prayer, asking for God's help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God's people. 
19  And pray also for me, that God will give me a message when I am ready to speak, so that I may speak boldly and make known the gospel's secret. 
20  For the sake of this gospel I am an ambassador, though now I am in prison. Pray that I may be bold in speaking about the gospel as I should.

Spirit-Guided Relationships: Wives and Husbands (Ephesians 5:21-33) New Living & Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

21  And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

22  For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 

23  For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. 

24  As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.

25  For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 

26  to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.

27  He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. 

28  In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. 

29  No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. 

30  And we are members of his body.

31  As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”

32  This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. 

33  So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

21  Submit yourselves to one another because of your reverence for Christ.
22  Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands as to the Lord. 
23  For a husband has authority over his wife just as Christ has authority over the church; and Christ is himself the Savior of the church, his body. 
24  And so wives must submit themselves completely to their husbands just as the church submits itself to Christ.
25  Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. 
26  He did this to dedicate the church to God by his word, after making it clean by washing it in water, 
27  in order to present the church to himself in all its beauty—pure and faultless, without spot or wrinkle or any other imperfection. 
28  Men ought to love their wives just as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself.
29  (None of us ever hate our own bodies. Instead, we feed them, and take care of them, just as Christ does the church; 
30  for we are members of his body.) 
31  As the scripture says, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife, and the two will become one.” 
32  There is a deep secret truth revealed in this scripture, which I understand as applying to Christ and the church. 
33  But it also applies to you: every husband must love his wife as himself, and every wife must respect her husband.

Living In The Light (Ephesians 5:1-20) New Living & Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

 1    Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 

2    Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

3    Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 

4    Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 

5    You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

6    Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 

7    Don’t participate in the things these people do. 

8    For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!

9    For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

10  Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 

11  Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 

12  It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 

13  But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 

14  for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,  “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead,     and Christ will give you light.”

15  So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 

16  Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 

17  Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.  

18  Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 

19  singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 

20  And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    Since you are God's dear children, you must try to be like him. 

2    Your life must be controlled by love, just as Christ loved us and gave his life for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice that pleases God.

3    Since you are God's people, it is not right that any matters of sexual immorality or indecency or greed should even be mentioned among you. 

4    Nor is it fitting for you to use language which is obscene, profane, or vulgar. Rather you should give thanks to God. 

5    You may be sure that no one who is immoral, indecent, or greedy (for greed is a form of idolatry) will ever receive a share in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.

6    Do not let anyone deceive you with foolish words; it is because of these very things that God's anger will come upon those who do not obey him. 

7    So have nothing at all to do with such people. 

8    You yourselves used to be in the darkness, but since you have become the Lord's people, you are in the light. So you must live like people who belong to the light, 

9    for it is the light that brings a rich harvest of every kind of goodness, righteousness, and truth. 

10  Try to learn what pleases the Lord. 

11  Have nothing to do with the worthless things that people do, things that belong to the darkness. Instead, bring them out to the light. 

12  (It is really too shameful even to talk about the things they do in secret.) 

13  And when all things are brought out to the light, then their true nature is clearly revealed; 

14   for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light."

15  So be careful how you live. Don't live like ignorant people, but like wise people. 

16  Make good use of every opportunity you have, because these are evil days. 

17  Don't be fools, then, but try to find out what the Lord wants you to do.

18  Do not get drunk with wine, which will only ruin you; instead, be filled with the Spirit. 

19  Speak to one another with the words of psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing hymns and psalms to the Lord with praise in your hearts. 

20  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, always give thanks for everything to God the Father.

The New Life In Christ (Ephesians 4:17-32) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

17  With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused.

18  Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 

19  They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

20  But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 

21  Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 

22  throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.

23  Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 

24  Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

25  So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 

26  And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 

27  for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

28  If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 

29  Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

30  And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

31  Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.

32  Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

17  In the Lord's name, then, I warn you: do not continue to live like the heathen, whose thoughts are worthless 
18  and whose minds are in the dark. They have no part in the life that God gives, for they are completely ignorant and stubborn. 
19  They have lost all feeling of shame; they give themselves over to vice and do all sorts of indecent things without restraint.
20  That was not what you learned about Christ! 
21  You certainly heard about him, and as his followers you were taught the truth that is in Jesus. 
22  So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to—the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. 
23  Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, 
24  and you must put on the new self, which is created in God's likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy.
25  No more lying, then! Each of you must tell the truth to the other believer, because we are all members together in the body of Christ. 
26  If you become angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin, and do not stay angry all day. 
27  Don't give the Devil a chance. 
28  If you used to rob, you must stop robbing and start working, in order to earn an honest living for yourself and to be able to help the poor. 
29  Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you. 
30  And do not make God's Holy Spirit sad; for the Spirit is God's mark of ownership on you, a guarantee that the Day will come when God will set you free. 
31  Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort. 
32  Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ.

The Unity Of The Body (Ephesians 4:1-16) New Living & Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1    Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 

2    Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 

3    Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 

4    For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

5    There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 

6    and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.  

7    However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. 

8    That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.”

9    Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world.

10  And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

11  Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 

12  Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

13  This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

14  Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 

15  Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 

16  He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    I urge you, then—I who am a prisoner because I serve the Lord: live a life that measures up to the standard God set when he called you. 

2    Be always humble, gentle, and patient. Show your love by being tolerant with one another. 

3    Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds you together.

4    There is one body and one Spirit, just as there is one hope to which God has called you. 

5    There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 

6    there is one God and Father of all people, who is Lord of all, works through all, and is in all.

7    Each one of us has received a special gift in proportion to what Christ has given. 

8    As the scripture says, “When he went up to the very heights, he took many captives with him; he gave gifts to people.”

9    Now, what does “he went up” mean? It means that first he came down to the lowest depths of the earth.

10  So the one who came down is the same one who went up, above and beyond the heavens, to fill the whole universe with his presence. 

11  It was he who “gave gifts to people”; he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers. 

12  He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ. 

13  And so we shall all come together to that oneness in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God; we shall become mature people, reaching to the very height of Christ's full stature. 

14  Then we shall no longer be children, carried by the waves and blown about by every shifting wind of the teaching of deceitful people, who lead others into error by the tricks they invent. 

15  Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head. 

16  Under his control all the different parts of the body fit together, and the whole body is held together by every joint with which it is provided. So when each separate part works as it should, the whole body grows and builds itself up through love.

The Love Of Christ (Ephesians 3:14-21) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

14  When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,

15  the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.

16  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 

17  Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 

18  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 

19  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

20  Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 

21  Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

14  For this reason I fall on my knees before the Father, 
15  from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its true name. 
16  I ask God from the wealth of his glory to give you power through his Spirit to be strong in your inner selves, 
17  and I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith. I pray that you may have your roots and foundation in love, 
18  so that you, together with all God's people, may have the power to understand how broad and long, how high and deep, is Christ's love. 
19  Yes, may you come to know his love—although it can never be fully known—and so be completely filled with the very nature of God.
20  To him who by means of his power working in us is able to do so much more than we can ever ask for, or even think of: 
21  to God be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever! Amen.

Oneness And Peace In Christ (Ephesians 2:11-22) New Living & Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

11  Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts.

12  In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 

13  But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

14  For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 

15  He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 

16  Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

17  He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 

18  Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. 

19  So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 

20  Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.

21  We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. ²² Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

11  You Gentiles by birth—called “the uncircumcised” by the Jews, who call themselves the circumcised (which refers to what men do to their bodies)—remember what you were in the past. 
12  At that time you were apart from Christ. You were foreigners and did not belong to God's chosen people. You had no part in the covenants, which were based on God's promises to his people, and you lived in this world without hope and without God. 
13  But now, in union with Christ Jesus you, who used to be far away, have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14  For Christ himself has brought us peace by making Jews and Gentiles one people. With his own body he broke down the wall that separated them and kept them enemies. 
15  He abolished the Jewish Law with its commandments and rules, in order to create out of the two races one new people in union with himself, in this way making peace. 
16  By his death on the cross Christ destroyed their enmity; by means of the cross he united both races into one body and brought them back to God. 
17  So Christ came and preached the Good News of peace to all—to you Gentiles, who were far away from God, and to the Jews, who were near to him. 
18  It is through Christ that all of us, Jews and Gentiles, are able to come in the one Spirit into the presence of the Father.
19  So then, you Gentiles are not foreigners or strangers any longer; you are now citizens together with God's people and members of the family of God. 
20  You, too, are built upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, the cornerstone being Christ Jesus himself. 
21  He is the one who holds the whole building together and makes it grow into a sacred temple dedicated to the Lord. 
22  In union with him you too are being built together with all the others into a place where God lives through his Spirit.

Made Alive In Christ (Ephesians 2:1-10) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1  Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 

2  You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 

3   All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

4   But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 

5   that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 

6   For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 

7   So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

8   God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 

9   Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 

10  For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    In the past you were spiritually dead because of your disobedience and sins. 

2    At that time you followed the world's evil way; you obeyed the ruler of the spiritual powers in space, the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God. 

3    Actually all of us were like them and lived according to our natural desires, doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds. In our natural condition we, like everyone else, were destined to suffer God's anger.

4    But God's mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great, 

5    that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience he brought us to life with Christ. It is by God's grace that you have been saved. 

6    In our union with Christ Jesus he raised us up with him to rule with him in the heavenly world. 

7    He did this to demonstrate for all time to come the extraordinary greatness of his grace in the love he showed us in Christ Jesus. 

8-9  For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God's gift, so that no one can boast about it. 

10   God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do.

Spiritual Blessings In Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

3    All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 

4    Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 

5    God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 

6    So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.

7    He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 

8    He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

9    God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. 

10  And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 

11  Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

12  God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. 

13  And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.

14  The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

3    Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! For in our union with Christ he has blessed us by giving us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world. 
4    Even before the world was made, God had already chosen us to be his through our union with Christ, so that we would be holy and without fault before him.  Because of his love 
5    God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his children—this was his pleasure and purpose. 
6    Let us praise God for his glorious grace, for the free gift he gave us in his dear Son! 
7    For by the blood of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven. How great is the grace of God,
8    which he gave to us in such large measure!  In all his wisdom and insight 
9    God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan he had already decided to complete by means of Christ. 
10  This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head.
11  All things are done according to God's plan and decision; and God chose us to be his own people in union with Christ because of his own purpose, based on what he had decided from the very beginning. 
12  Let us, then, who were the first to hope in Christ, praise God's glory!
13  And you also became God's people when you heard the true message, the Good News that brought you salvation. You believed in Christ, and God put his stamp of ownership on you by giving you the Holy Spirit he had promised. 
14  The Spirit is the guarantee that we shall receive what God has promised his people, and this assures us that God will give complete freedom to those who are his. Let us praise his glory!

The Lord's Coming (I Thessalonians 4:13-18) New Living & Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

13  And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 

14  For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

15  We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 

16  For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. 

17  Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 

18  So encourage each other with these words.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

13  Our friends, we want you to know the truth about those who have died, so that you will not be sad, as are those who have no hope. 
14  We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will take back with Jesus those who have died believing in him.
15  What we are teaching you now is the Lord's teaching: we who are alive on the day the Lord comes will not go ahead of those who have died. 
16  There will be the shout of command, the archangel's voice, the sound of God's trumpet, and the Lord himself will come down from heaven. Those who have died believing in Christ will rise to life first; 
17  then we who are living at that time will be gathered up along with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. 
18  So then, encourage one another with these words.

Paul And The False Apostles (II Corinthians 11:1-15) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1   I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me. 

2   For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ. 

3   But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. 

4   You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.

5    But I don’t consider myself inferior in any way to these “super apostles” who teach such things. 

6    I may be unskilled as a speaker, but I’m not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every possible way.

7    Was I wrong when I humbled myself and honored you by preaching God’s Good News to you without expecting anything in return? 

8    I “robbed” other churches by accepting their contributions so I could serve you at no cost. 

9    And when I was with you and didn’t have enough to live on, I did not become a financial burden to anyone. For the brothers who came from Macedonia brought me all that I needed. I have never been a burden to you, and I never will be. 

10  As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, no one in all of Greece will ever stop me from boasting about this. 

11  Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows that I do.

12  But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours. 

13  These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. 

14  But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 

15  So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    I wish you would tolerate me, even when I am a bit foolish. Please do! 

2    I am jealous for you, just as God is; you are like a pure virgin whom I have promised in marriage to one man only, Christ himself. 

3    I am afraid that your minds will be corrupted and that you will abandon your full and pure devotion to Christ—in the same way that Eve was deceived by the snake's clever lies. 

4    For you gladly tolerate anyone who comes to you and preaches a different Jesus, not the one we preached; and you accept a spirit and a gospel completely different from the Spirit and the gospel you received from us!

5    I do not think that I am the least bit inferior to those very special so-called “apostles” of yours! 

6    Perhaps I am an amateur in speaking, but certainly not in knowledge; we have made this clear to you at all times and in all conditions.

7    I did not charge you a thing when I preached the Good News of God to you; I humbled myself in order to make you important. Was that wrong of me? 

8    While I was working among you, I was paid by other churches. I was robbing them, so to speak, in order to help you. 

9    And during the time I was with you I did not bother you for help when I needed money; the believers who came from Macedonia brought me everything I needed. As in the past, so in the future: I will never be a burden to you! 

10  By Christ's truth in me, I promise that this boast of mine will not be silenced anywhere in all of Achaia.

11  Do I say this because I don't love you? God knows I love you!

12  I will go on doing what I am doing now, in order to keep those other “apostles” from having any reason for boasting and saying that they work in the same way that we do. 

13  Those men are not true apostles—they are false apostles, who lie about their work and disguise themselves to look like real apostles of Christ. 

14  Well, no wonder! Even Satan can disguise himself to look like an angel of light! 

15  So it is no great thing if his servants disguise themselves to look like servants of righteousness. In the end they will get exactly what their actions deserve.

Help For Needy Believers (II Corinthians 9:6-15) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
6    Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.
7    You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
8    And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
9    As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor.  Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
10  For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
11  Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.
12  So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.
13  As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.
14  And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you.
15  Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

6    Remember that the person who plants few seeds will have a small crop; the one who plants many seeds will have a large crop. 
7    You should each give, then, as you have decided, not with regret or out of a sense of duty; for God loves the one who gives gladly. 
8    And God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause. 
9    As the scripture says, “He gives generously to the needy; his kindness lasts forever.”
10  And God, who supplies seed for the sower and bread to eat, will also supply you with all the seed you need and will make it grow and produce a rich harvest from your generosity. 
11  He will always make you rich enough to be generous at all times, so that many will thank God for your gifts which they receive from us. 
12  For this service you perform not only meets the needs of God's people, but also produces an outpouring of gratitude to God. 
13  And because of the proof which this service of yours brings, many will give glory to God for your loyalty to the gospel of Christ, which you profess, and for your generosity in sharing with them and everyone else.
14  And so with deep affection they will pray for you because of the extraordinary grace God has shown you. 
15  Let us thank God for his priceless gift!

Warning Against Pagan Influences (II Corinthians 6:14-18) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

14  Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 

15  What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? 

16  And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:  “I will live in them and walk among them.  I will be their God, and they will be my people.

17  Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.  Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.

18  And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

14  Do not try to work together as equals with unbelievers, for it cannot be done. How can right and wrong be partners? How can light and darkness live together? 

15  How can Christ and the Devil agree? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 

16  How can God's temple come to terms with pagan idols? For we are the temple of the living God! As God himself has said, “I will make my home with my people and live among them; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

17  And so the Lord says, “You must leave them and separate yourselves from them.  Have nothing to do with what is unclean, and I will accept you.

18  I will be your father, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Paul’s Hardships (II Corinthians 6:3-13) New Living and Good News Translation

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

3    We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry.

4    In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. 

5   We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. 

6    We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. 

7    We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. 

8    We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. 

9    We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. 

10  Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

11  Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you.

12  There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us. 

13  I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us!

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

3    We do not want anyone to find fault with our work, so we try not to put obstacles in anyone's way.
4    Instead, in everything we do we show that we are God's servants by patiently enduring troubles, hardships, and difficulties. 
5    We have been beaten, jailed, and mobbed; we have been overworked and have gone without sleep or food. 
6    By our purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness we have shown ourselves to be God's servants—by the Holy Spirit, by our true love, 
7    by our message of truth, and by the power of God. We have righteousness as our weapon, both to attack and to defend ourselves. 
8    We are honored and disgraced; we are insulted and praised. We are treated as liars, yet we speak the truth; 
9    as unknown, yet we are known by all; as though we were dead, but, as you see, we live on. Although punished, we are not killed; 
10  although saddened, we are always glad; we seem poor, but we make many people rich; we seem to have nothing, yet we really possess everything.
11  Dear friends in Corinth! We have spoken frankly to you; we have opened our hearts wide. 
12  It is not we who have closed our hearts to you; it is you who have closed your hearts to us. 
13  I speak now as though you were my children: show us the same feelings that we have for you. Open your hearts wide!

Today Is The Of Salvation (II Corinthians 6:1-2) New Living, Good News, and New King James Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1  As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. 

2  For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you.  On the day of salvation, I helped you.”  Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1  In our work together with God, then, we beg you who have received God's grace not to let it be wasted.

2  Hear what God says:  “When the time came for me to show you favor, I heard you; when the day arrived for me to save you, I helped you.”  Listen! This is the hour to receive God's favor; today is the day to be saved!

NEW KING JAMES TRANSLATION

1  We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 

2  For He says:  “In an acceptable time I have heard you,   And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”  Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

We Are God’s Ambassadors (II Corinthians 5:11-21) New Living & Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

11  Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. 

12  Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. 

13  If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. 

14  Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.

15  He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

16  So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 

17  This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

18  And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 

19  For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 

20  So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 

21  For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

11  We know what it means to fear the Lord, and so we try to persuade others. God knows us completely, and I hope that in your hearts you know me as well. 
12  We are not trying again to recommend ourselves to you; rather, we are trying to give you a good reason to be proud of us, so that you will be able to answer those who boast about people's appearance and not about their character. 
13  Are we really insane? It is for God's sake. Or are we sane? Then it is for your sake. 
14  We are ruled by the love of Christ, now that we recognize that one man died for everyone, which means that they all share in his death. 
15  He died for all, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but only for him who died and was raised to life for their sake.
16  No longer, then, do we judge anyone by human standards. Even if at one time we judged Christ according to human standards, we no longer do so. 
17  Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come. 
18  All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of making others his friends also. 
19  Our message is that God was making all human beings his friends through Christ. God did not keep an account of their sins, and he has given us the message which tells how he makes them his friends.
20  Here we are, then, speaking for Christ, as though God himself were making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ's behalf: let God change you from enemies into his friends! 
21  Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God.