Responsibilities Toward Believers (I Timothy 5:1-25) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1    Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers. 

2    Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.

3    Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her. 

4    But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God.

5    Now a true widow, a woman who is truly alone in this world, has placed her hope in God. She prays night and day, asking God for his help. 

6    But the widow who lives only for pleasure is spiritually dead even while she lives. 

7    Give these instructions to the church so that no one will be open to criticism.

8    But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.

9    A widow who is put on the list for support must be a woman who is at least sixty years old and was faithful to her husband.

10  She must be well respected by everyone because of the good she has done. Has she brought up her children well? Has she been kind to strangers and served other believers humbly? Has she helped those who are in trouble? Has she always been ready to do good?

11  The younger widows should not be on the list, because their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Christ and they will want to remarry. 

12  Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge. 

13  And if they are on the list, they will learn to be lazy and will spend their time gossiping from house to house, meddling in other people’s business and talking about things they shouldn’t. 

14  So I advise these younger widows to marry again, have children, and take care of their own homes. Then the enemy will not be able to say anything against them. 

15  For I am afraid that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan.

16  If a woman who is a believer has relatives who are widows, she must take care of them and not put the responsibility on the church. Then the church can care for the widows who are truly alone.

17  Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. 

18  For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!”

19  Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses. 

20  Those who sin should be reprimanded in front of the whole church; this will serve as a strong warning to others.

21  I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the highest angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing favoritism to anyone.

22  Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader. Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

23  Don’t drink only water. You ought to drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often.

24  Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later. 

25  In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as if he were your father. Treat the younger men as your brothers, 

2    the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, with all purity.

3    Show respect for widows who really are all alone. 

4    But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn first to carry out their religious duties toward their own family and in this way repay their parents and grandparents, because that is what pleases God. 

5    A widow who is all alone, with no one to take care of her, has placed her hope in God and continues to pray and ask him for his help night and day. 

6    But a widow who gives herself to pleasure has already died, even though she lives. 

7    Give them these instructions, so that no one will find fault with them. 

8    But if any do not take care of their relatives, especially the members of their own family, they have denied the faith and are worse than an unbeliever.

9    Do not add any widow to the list of widows unless she is over sixty years of age. In addition, she must have been married only once 

10  and have a reputation for good deeds: a woman who brought up her children well, received strangers in her home, performed humble duties for other Christians, helped people in trouble, and devoted herself to doing good.

11  But do not include younger widows in the list; because when their desires make them want to marry, they turn away from Christ,

12  and so become guilty of breaking their earlier promise to him. 

13  They also learn to waste their time in going around from house to house; but even worse, they learn to be gossips and busybodies, talking of things they should not. 

14  So I would prefer that the younger widows get married, have children, and take care of their homes, so as to give our enemies no chance of speaking evil of us. 

15  For some widows have already turned away to follow Satan. 

16  But if any Christian woman has widows in her family, she must take care of them and not put the burden on the church, so that it may take care of the widows who are all alone.

17  The elders who do good work as leaders should be considered worthy of receiving double pay, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 

18  For the scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox when you are using it to thresh grain” and “Workers should be given their pay.” 

19  Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or more witnesses. 

20  Rebuke publicly all those who commit sins, so that the rest may be afraid.

21  In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the holy angels I solemnly call upon you to obey these instructions without showing any prejudice or favor to anyone in anything you do. 

22  Be in no hurry to lay hands on people to dedicate them to the Lord's service. Take no part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

23  Do not drink water only, but take a little wine to help your digestion, since you are sick so often.

24  The sins of some people are plain to see, and their sins go ahead of them to judgment; but the sins of others are seen only later. 

25  In the same way good deeds are plainly seen, and even those that are not so plain cannot be hidden.

A Good Servant Of Christ Jesus (I Timothy 4:6-16) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

6    If you explain these things to the brothers and sisters, Timothy, you will be a worthy servant of Christ Jesus, one who is nourished by the message of faith and the good teaching you have followed. 

7    Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly.

8    “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” 

9    This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. 

10  This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers.

11  Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. 

12  Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. 

13  Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.

14  Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. 

15  Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. 

16  Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
6    If you give these instructions to the believers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, as you feed yourself spiritually on the words of faith and of the true teaching which you have followed. 
7    But keep away from those godless legends, which are not worth telling. Keep yourself in training for a godly life. 
8    Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way, because it promises life both for the present and for the future. 
9    This is a true saying, to be completely accepted and believed. 
10  We struggle and work hard, because we have placed our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all and especially of those who believe.
11  Give them these instructions and these teachings. 
12  Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for the believers in your speech, your conduct, your love, faith, and purity. 
13  Until I come, give your time and effort to the public reading of the Scriptures and to preaching and teaching. 
14  Do not neglect the spiritual gift that is in you, which was given to you when the prophets spoke and the elders laid their hands on you. 
15  Practice these things and devote yourself to them, in order that your progress may be seen by all.
16  Watch yourself and watch your teaching. Keep on doing these things, because if you do, you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

Warnings Against False Teachers (I Timothy 4:1-5) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

 1  Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. 

2  These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.

3  They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth. 

4  Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. 

5  For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
1  The Spirit says clearly that some people will abandon the faith in later times; they will obey lying spirits and follow the teachings of demons. 
2  Such teachings are spread by deceitful liars, whose consciences are dead, as if burnt with a hot iron.
3  Such people teach that it is wrong to marry and to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten, after a prayer of thanks, by those who are believers and have come to know the truth. 
4  Everything that God has created is good; nothing is to be rejected, but everything is to be received with a prayer of thanks, 
5  because the word of God and the prayer make it acceptable to God.   

Gratitude For God's Mercy (I Timothy 1:12-17) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

12  I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, 

13  even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. 

14  Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.

15  This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 

16  But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

17  All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

12  I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength for my work. I thank him for considering me worthy and appointing me to serve him, 

13  even though in the past I spoke evil of him and persecuted and insulted him. But God was merciful to me because I did not yet have faith and so did not know what I was doing. 

14  And our Lord poured out his abundant grace on me and gave me the faith and love which are ours in union with Christ Jesus. 

15  This is a true saying, to be completely accepted and believed: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I am the worst of them, 

16  but God was merciful to me in order that Christ Jesus might show his full patience in dealing with me, the worst of sinners, as an example for all those who would later believe in him and receive eternal life. 

17  To the eternal King, immortal and invisible, the only God—to him be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen.

Warnings Against False Teaching (I Timothy 1:3-11) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

3    When I left for Macedonia, I urged you to stay there in Ephesus and stop those whose teaching is contrary to the truth. 

4    Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in God.

5    The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. 

6    But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions. 

7   They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.

8   We know that the law is good when used correctly. 

9    For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. 

10  The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders,  liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching

11 That comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

3    I want you to stay in Ephesus, just as I urged you when I was on my way to Macedonia. Some people there are teaching false doctrines, and you must order them to stop. 
4    Tell them to give up those legends and those long lists of ancestors, which only produce arguments; they do not serve God's plan, which is known by faith. 
5    The purpose of this order is to arouse the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a genuine faith. 
6    Some people have turned away from these and have lost their way in foolish discussions. 
7    They want to be teachers of God's law, but they do not understand their own words or the matters about which they speak with so much confidence.
8    We know that the Law is good if it is used as it should be used. 
9    It must be remembered, of course, that laws are made, not for good people, but for lawbreakers and criminals, for the godless and sinful, for those who are not religious or spiritual, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 
10  for the immoral, for sexual perverts, for kidnappers, for those who lie and give false testimony or who do anything else contrary to sound doctrine. 
11  That teaching is found in the gospel that was entrusted to me to announce, the Good News from the glorious and blessed God.

God's Grace (II Thessalonians 3:16,18) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
16  Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all. 
18  May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
16  May the Lord himself, who is our source of peace, give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all.
18  May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Warning Against Idleness (II Thessalonians 3:6-15) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

6    And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us. 

7    For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. 

8    We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. 

9    We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. 

10  Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”

11  Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. 

12  We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. 

13  As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.

14  Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed. 

15  Don’t think of them as enemies, but warn them as you would a brother or sister.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
6    Our friends, we command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to keep away from all believers who are living a lazy life and who do not follow the instructions that we gave them. 
7    You yourselves know very well that you should do just what we did. We were not lazy when we were with you. 
8    We did not accept anyone's support without paying for it. Instead, we worked and toiled; we kept working day and night so as not to be an expense to any of you. 
9    We did this, not because we do not have the right to demand our support; we did it to be an example for you to follow. 
10  While we were with you, we used to tell you, “Whoever refuses to work is not allowed to eat.”
11  We say this because we hear that there are some people among you who live lazy lives and who do nothing except meddle in other people's business. 
12  In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we command these people and warn them to lead orderly lives and work to earn their own living.
13  But you, friends, must not become tired of doing good. 
14  It may be that some there will not obey the message we send you in this letter. If so, take note of them and have nothing to do with them, so that they will be ashamed. 
15  But do not treat them as enemies; instead, warn them as believers.

Paul's Request For Prayer (II Thessalonians 3:1-5) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
1  Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you.
2  Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer.
3  But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
4  And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you.
5  May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1  Finally, our friends, pray for us that the Lord's message may continue to spread rapidly and be received with honor, just as it was among you. 

2  Pray also that God will rescue us from wicked and evil people; for not everyone believes the message.

3  But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and keep you safe from the Evil One. 

4  And the Lord gives us confidence in you, and we are sure that you are doing and will continue to do what we tell you.

5  May the Lord lead you into a greater understanding of God's love and the endurance that is given by Christ.

Believers Should Stand Firm (II Thessalonians 2:13-17) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

13  As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. 

14  He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15  With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.

16  Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, 

17  comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

13  We must thank God at all times for you, friends, you whom the Lord loves. For God chose you as the first to be saved by the Spirit's power to make you his holy people and by your faith in the truth. 
14  God called you to this through the Good News we preached to you; he called you to possess your share of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
15  So then, our friends, stand firm and hold on to those truths which we taught you, both in our preaching and in our letter.
16  May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and in his grace gave us unfailing courage and a firm hope, 
17  encourage you and strengthen you to always do and say what is good.

Events Prior To The Lord’s Second Coming (II Thessalonians 2:1-12) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1    Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him. 

2    Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us. 

3    Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction. 

4    He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.

5    Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you? 

6    And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. 

7    For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. 

8    Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.

9    This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 

10  He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 

11  So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 

12  Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to be with him: I beg you, my friends, 

2    not to be so easily confused in your thinking or upset by the claim that the Day of the Lord has come. Perhaps it is thought that we said this while prophesying or preaching, or that we wrote it in a letter. 

3    Do not let anyone deceive you in any way. For the Day will not come until the final Rebellion takes place and the Wicked One appears, who is destined to hell. 

4    He will oppose every so-called god or object of worship and will put himself above them all. He will even go in and sit down in God's Temple and claim to be God.

5    Don't you remember? I told you all this while I was with you. 

6    Yet there is something that keeps this from happening now, and you know what it is. At the proper time, then, the Wicked One will appear. 

7    The Mysterious Wickedness is already at work, but what is going to happen will not happen until the one who holds it back is taken out of the way. 

8    Then the Wicked One will be revealed, but when the Lord Jesus comes, he will kill him with the breath from his mouth and destroy him with his dazzling presence. 

9    The Wicked One will come with the power of Satan and perform all kinds of false miracles and wonders, 

10  and use every kind of wicked deceit on those who will perish. They will perish because they did not welcome and love the truth so as to be saved. 

11  And so God sends the power of error to work in them so that they believe what is false. 

12  The result is that all who have not believed the truth, but have taken pleasure in sin, will be condemned.

Paul Advice and Greetings (1 Thessalonians 5:12-28) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

12  Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. 

13  Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.

14  Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

15  See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

16  Always be joyful. 

17  Never stop praying. 

18  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

19  Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. 

20  Do not scoff at prophecies, 

21  but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. 

22  Stay away from every kind of evil. 

23  Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 

24  God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.

25  Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us.

26  Greet all the brothers and sisters with Christian love.

27  I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.

28  May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
12  We beg you, our friends, to pay proper respect to those who work among you, who guide and instruct you in the Christian life. 
13  Treat them with the greatest respect and love because of the work they do. Be at peace among yourselves.
14  We urge you, our friends, to warn the idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
15  See that no one pays back wrong for wrong, but at all times make it your aim to do good to one another and to all people.
16  Be joyful always, 
17  pray at all times, 
18  be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus.
19  Do not restrain the Holy Spirit; 
20  do not despise inspired messages. 
21  Put all things to the test: keep what is good 
22  and avoid every kind of evil.
23  May the God who gives us peace make you holy in every way and keep your whole being—spirit, soul, and body—free from every fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
24  He who calls you will do it, because he is faithful.
25  Pray also for us, friends.
26  Greet all the believers with the kiss of peace.
27  I urge you by the authority of the Lord to read this letter to all the believers.
28  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Be Ready For The Lord's Coming (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1    Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. 

2    For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 

3    When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.

4    But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.

5    For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. 

6    So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. 

7    Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. 

8    But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

9    For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. 

10  Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.

11  So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
1    There is no need to write you, friends, about the times and occasions when these things will happen.
2    For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief comes at night. 
3    When people say, “Everything is quiet and safe,” then suddenly destruction will hit them! It will come as suddenly as the pains that come upon a woman in labor, and people will not escape. 
4    But you, friends, are not in the darkness, and the Day should not take you by surprise like a thief. 
5    All of you are people who belong to the light, who belong to the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 
6    So then, we should not be sleeping like the others; we should be awake and sober. 
7    It is at night when people sleep; it is at night when they get drunk. 
8    But we belong to the day, and we should be sober. We must wear faith and love as a breastplate, and our hope of salvation as a helmet. 
9    God did not choose us to suffer his anger, but to possess salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 
10  who died for us in order that we might live together with him, whether we are alive or dead when he comes. 
11  And so encourage one another and help one another, just as you are now doing.

The Lord's Coming (I Thessalonians 4:13-18) New Living and 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.

Live To Please God (I Thessalonians 4:1-12) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1    Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. 

2    For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

3    God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 

4    Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— 

5    not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. 

6    Never harm or cheat a Christian brother in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. 

7    God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. 

8    Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

9    But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another. 

10  Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia. Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more.

11  Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. 

12  Then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    Finally, our friends, you learned from us how you should live in order to please God. This is, of course, the way you have been living. And now we beg and urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to do even more.

2    For you know the instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 

3    God wants you to be holy and completely free from sexual immorality. 

4    Each of you should know how to live with your wife in a holy and honorable way, 

5    not with a lustful desire, like the heathen who do not know God. 

6    In this matter, then, none of you should do wrong to other Christians or take advantage of them. We have told you this before, and we strongly warned you that the Lord will punish those who do that. 

7    God did not call us to live in immorality, but in holiness. 

8    So then, whoever rejects this teaching is not rejecting a human being, but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

9    There is no need to write you about love for each other. You yourselves have been taught by God how you should love one another. 

10  And you have, in fact, behaved like this toward all the believers in all of Macedonia. So we beg you, our friends, to do even more. 

11  Make it your aim to live a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to earn your own living, just as we told you before. 

12  In this way you will win the respect of those who are not believers, and you will not have to depend on anyone for what you need.

An Encouragement For Prayer (Colossians 4:2-6) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

2  Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 

3  Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. 

4  Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.

5  Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.

6  Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
2  Be persistent in prayer, and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God. 
3  At the same time pray also for us, so that God will give us a good opportunity to preach his message about the secret of Christ. For that is why I am now in prison. 
4  Pray, then, that I may speak, as I should, in such a way as to make it clear.
5  Be wise in the way you act toward those who are not believers, making good use of every opportunity you have. 
6  Your speech should always be pleasant and interesting, and you should know how to give the right answer to everyone.

Instructions For Christian Households (Colossians 3:18-25 & 4:1) New Living and Good News Translations)

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

^{COLOSSIANS 3:18-25}

18  Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord.

19  Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.

20  Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. 

21  Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.

22  Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. 

23  Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

24  Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.

25  But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites. 

COLOSSIANS 4:1
1  Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
COLOSSIANS 3:18-25
18  Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, for that is what you should do as Christians.
19  Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
20  Children, it is your Christian duty to obey your parents always, for that is what pleases God.
21  Parents, do not irritate your children, or they will become discouraged.
22  Slaves, obey your human masters in all things, not only when they are watching you because you want to gain their approval; but do it with a sincere heart because of your reverence for the Lord. 
23  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people. 
24  Remember that the Lord will give you as a reward what he has kept for his people. For Christ is the real Master you serve. 
25  And all wrongdoers will be repaid for the wrong things they do, because God judges everyone by the same standard.
COLOSSIANS 4:1
 Masters, be fair and just in the way you treat your slaves. Remember that you too have a Master in heaven.

The Old Life And The New Life (Colossians 3:5-17) New Living & Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
5    So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
6    Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.
7    You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.
8    But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.
9    Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.
10  Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.
11  In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
12  Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
13  Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
14  Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
15  And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
16  Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
17  And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
5    You must put to death, then, the earthly desires at work in you, such as sexual immorality, indecency, lust, evil passions, and greed (for greed is a form of idolatry). 
6    Because of such things God's anger will come upon those who do not obey him.
7    At one time you yourselves used to live according to such desires, when your life was dominated by them.
8    But now you must get rid of all these things: anger, passion, and hateful feelings. No insults or obscene talk must ever come from your lips. 
9    Do not lie to one another, for you have put off the old self with its habits 
10  and have put on the new self. This is the new being which God, its Creator, is constantly renewing in his own image, in order to bring you to a full knowledge of himself. 
11  As a result, there is no longer any distinction between Gentiles and Jews, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarians, savages, slaves, and free, but Christ is all, Christ is in all.
12  You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 
13  Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you. 
14  And to all these qualities add love, which binds all things together in perfect unity. 
15  The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make; for it is to this peace that God has called you together in the one body. And be thankful. 
16  Christ's message in all its richness must live in your hearts. Teach and instruct one another with all wisdom. Sing psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing to God with thanksgiving in your hearts. 
17  Everything you do or say, then, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks through him to God the Father.

Dying And Living With Christ/Living The New Life (Colossians 2:20-23 & 3:1-4) New Living & Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
COLOSSIANS 2:20-23
20  You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as,
21  “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”?
22  Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them.
23  These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.
COLOSSIANS 3:1-4
1  Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
2  Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
3  For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.
4  And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
COLOSSIANS 2:20-23
20  You have died with Christ and are set free from the ruling spirits of the universe. Why, then, do you live as though you belonged to this world? Why do you obey such rules as 
21  “Don't handle this,” “Don't taste that,” “Don't touch the other”? 
22  All these refer to things which become useless once they are used; they are only human rules and teachings. 
23  Of course such rules appear to be based on wisdom in their forced worship of angels, and false humility, and severe treatment of the body; but they have no real value in controlling physical passions.
COLOSSIANS 3:1-4
1  You have been raised to life with Christ, so set your hearts on the things that are in heaven, where Christ sits on his throne at the right side of God. 
2  Keep your minds fixed on things there, not on things here on earth. 
3  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 
4  Your real life is Christ and when he appears, then you too will appear with him and share his glory!

Freedom From Rules And New Life In Christ (Colossians 2:6-19) New Living & Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

6    And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 

7    Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

8    Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. 

9    For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 

10  So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

11  When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.

12  For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

13  You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 

14  He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 

15  In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

16  So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 

17  For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. 

18  Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels,saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, 

19  and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

6    Since you have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, live in union with him. 
7    Keep your roots deep in him, build your lives on him, and become stronger in your faith, as you were taught. And be filled with thanksgiving.
8    See to it, then, that no one enslaves you by means of the worthless deceit of human wisdom, which comes from the teachings handed down by human beings and from the ruling spirits of the universe, and not from Christ. 
9    For the full content of divine nature lives in Christ, in his humanity, 
10  and you have been given full life in union with him. He is supreme over every spiritual ruler and authority.
11  In union with Christ you were circumcised, not with the circumcision that is made by human beings, but with the circumcision made by Christ, which consists of being freed from the power of this sinful self. 
12  For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ through your faith in the active power of God, who raised him from death. 
13  You were at one time spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were Gentiles without the Law. But God has now brought you to life with Christ. God forgave us all our sins; 
14  he canceled the unfavorable record of our debts with its binding rules and did away with it completely by nailing it to the cross. 
15  And on that cross Christ freed himself from the power of the spiritual rulers and authorities; he made a public spectacle of them by leading them as captives in his victory procession.
16  So let no one make rules about what you eat or drink or about holy days or the New Moon Festival or the Sabbath. 
17  All such things are only a shadow of things in the future; the reality is Christ. 
18  Do not allow yourselves to be condemned by anyone who claims to be superior because of special visions and who insists on false humility and the worship of angels. For no reason at all, such people are all puffed up by their human way of thinking 
19  and have stopped holding on to Christ, who is the head of the body. Under Christ's control the whole body is nourished and held together by its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God wants it to grow.

Christ Lives In You (Colossians 1:27-29 & 2:1-5) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
COLOSSIANS 1:27-29

27  For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.

28  So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. 

29  That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.

COLOSSIANS 2:1-5

1  I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. 

2  I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. 

3  In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4  I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. 

5  For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

COLOSSIANS 1:27-29

27  God's plan is to make known his secret to his people, this rich and glorious secret which he has for all peoples. And the secret is that Christ is in you, which means that you will share in the glory of God. 

28  So we preach Christ to everyone. With all possible wisdom we warn and teach them in order to bring each one into God's presence as a mature individual in union with Christ. 

29  To get this done I toil and struggle, using the mighty strength which Christ supplies and which is at work in me.

COLOSSIANS 2:1-5

1  Let me tell you how hard I have worked for you and for the people in Laodicea and for all others who do not know me personally. 

2  I do this in order that they may be filled with courage and may be drawn together in love, and so have the full wealth of assurance which true understanding brings. In this way they will know God's secret, which is Christ himself.

3  He is the key that opens all the hidden treasures of God's wisdom and knowledge.

4  I tell you, then, do not let anyone deceive you with false arguments, no matter how good they seem to be.

5  For even though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, and I am glad as I see the resolute firmness with which you stand together in your faith in Christ.

Christ Is Supreme (Colossians 1:15-23) New Living & Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

15  Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.  He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,

16  for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.  He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.

17  He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

18  Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body.  He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead.  So he is first in everything.

19  For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ,

20  and through him God reconciled everything to himself.  He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

21  This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 

22  Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

23  But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

15  Christ is the visible likeness of the invisible God. He is the first-born Son, superior to all created things.
16  For through him God created everything in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen things, including spiritual powers, lords, rulers, and authorities. God created the whole universe through him and for him.
17  Christ existed before all things, and in union with him all things have their proper place. 
18  He is the head of his body, the church; he is the source of the body's life. He is the first-born Son, who was raised from death, in order that he alone might have the first place in all things. 
19  For it was by God's own decision that the Son has in himself the full nature of God. 
20  Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son's blood on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven.
21  At one time you were far away from God and were his enemies because of the evil things you did and thought. 
22  But now, by means of the physical death of his Son, God has made you his friends, in order to bring you, holy, pure, and faultless, into his presence. 
23  You must, of course, continue faithful on a firm and sure foundation, and must not allow yourselves to be shaken from the hope you gained when you heard the gospel. It is of this gospel that I, Paul, became a servant—this gospel which has been preached to everybody in the world.

Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Colossians 1:3-14) New Living & Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

3    We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

4    For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, 

5    which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.

6    This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.

7    You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf.

8    He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.

9    So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 

10  Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

11  We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,

12  always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 

13  For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 

14  who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

3    We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you. 
4    For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all God's people. 
5    When the true message, the Good News, first came to you, you heard about the hope it offers. So your faith and love are based on what you hope for, which is kept safe for you in heaven. 
6    The gospel keeps bringing blessings and is spreading throughout the world, just as it has among you ever since the day you first heard about the grace of God and came to know it as it really is. 
7    You learned of God's grace from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is Christ's faithful worker on our behalf. 
8    He has told us of the love that the Spirit has given you.
9    For this reason we have always prayed for you, ever since we heard about you. We ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will, with all the wisdom and understanding that his Spirit gives. 
10  Then you will be able to live as the Lord wants and will always do what pleases him. Your lives will produce all kinds of good deeds, and you will grow in your knowledge of God. 
11-12  May you be made strong with all the strength which comes from his glorious power, so that you may be able to endure everything with patience. And with joy give thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to have your share of what God has reserved for his people in the kingdom of light. 
13    He rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the kingdom of his dear Son, 
14    by whom we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven.

Thanks For The Gift (Philippians 4:12-20) New Living & Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

12  I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 

13  For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 

14  Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.

15  As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 

16  Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. 

17  I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness

18  At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. 

19  And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

20  Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

12  I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little. 
13  I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.
14  But it was very good of you to help me in my troubles. 
15  You Philippians know very well that when I left Macedonia in the early days of preaching the Good News, you were the only church to help me; you were the only ones who shared my profits and losses.
16  More than once when I needed help in Thessalonica, you sent it to me. 
17  It is not that I just want to receive gifts; rather, I want to see profit added to your account. 
18  Here, then, is my receipt for everything you have given me—and it has been more than enough! I have all I need now that Epaphroditus has brought me all your gifts. They are like a sweet-smelling offering to God, a sacrifice which is acceptable and pleasing to him. 
19  And with all his abundant wealth through Christ Jesus, my God will supply all your needs. 
20  To our God and Father be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

Words Of Encouragement (Philippians 4:2-9) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

2  Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your Disagreement.  

3  And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.

4  Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 

5  Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

6  Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 

7  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

8  And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 

9  Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
2  Euodia and Syntyche, please, I beg you, try to agree as sisters in the Lord. 
3  And you too, my faithful partner, I want you to help these women; for they have worked hard with me to spread the gospel, together with Clement and all my other fellow workers, whose names are in God's book of the living.
4  May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice!
5  Show a gentle attitude toward everyone. The Lord is coming soon. 
6  Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. 
7  And God's peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.
8  In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable. 
9  Put into practice what you learned and received from me, both from my words and from my actions. And the God who gives us peace will be with you.

Pressing Toward The Goal (Philippians 3:12-21) New Living & Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

12  I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 

13  No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,^] but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 

14  I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

15  Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. 

16  But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.

17  Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.

18  For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 

19  They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 

20  But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 

21  He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

12  I do not claim that I have already succeeded or have already become perfect. I keep striving to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has already won me to himself. 
13  Of course, my friends, I really do not think that I have already won it; the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. 
14  So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God's call through Christ Jesus to the life above.
15  All of us who are spiritually mature should have this same attitude. But if some of you have a different attitude, God will make this clear to you. 
16  However that may be, let us go forward according to the same rules we have followed until now.
17  Keep on imitating me, my friends. Pay attention to those who follow the right example that we have set for you. 
18  I have told you this many times before, and now I repeat it with tears: there are many whose lives make them enemies of Christ's death on the cross. 
19  They are going to end up in hell, because their god is their bodily desires. They are proud of what they should be ashamed of, and they think only of things that belong to this world. 
20  We, however, are citizens of heaven, and we eagerly wait for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from heaven. 
21  He will change our weak mortal bodies and make them like his own glorious body, using that power by which he is able to bring all things under his rule.