Letters to the Churches

Yes, I gave it all up in order to know him, that is, to know the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings as I am being conformed to his death,

so that somehow I might arrive at being resurrected from the dead.

It is not that I have already obtained it or already reached the goal — no, I keep pursuing it in the hope of taking hold of that for which the Messiah Yeshua took hold of me.

Brothers, I, for my part, do not think of myself as having yet gotten hold of it; but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind me and straining forward toward what lies ahead,

I keep pursuing the goal in order to win the prize offered by God’s upward calling in the Messiah Yeshua.

Therefore, as many of us as are mature, let us keep paying attention to this; and if you are differently minded about anything, God will also reveal this to you.

Only let our conduct fit the level we have already reached.

Brothers, join in imitating me, and pay attention to those who live according to the pattern we have set for you.

For many — I have told you about them often before, and even now I say it with tears — live as enemies of the Messiah’s execution-stake.

They are headed for destruction! Their god is the belly; they are proud of what they ought to be ashamed of, since they are concerned about the things of the world.

But we are citizens of heaven, and it is from there that we expect a Deliverer, the Lord Yeshua the Messiah.

He will change the bodies we have in this humble state and make them like his glorious body, using the power which enables him to bring everything under his control.

So, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and my crown, my dear friends, keep standing firm in union with the Lord.

I beg Evodia and I beg Syntyche to agree with each other in union with the Lord.

I also request you, loyal Syzygus, to help these women; for they have worked hard proclaiming the Good News with me, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow-workers whose names are in the Book of Life.

Rejoice in union with the Lord always! I will say it again: rejoice!

Let everyone see how reasonable and gentle you are. The Lord is near!

Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving.

Then God’s shalom, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua.

In conclusion, brothers, focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or on something praiseworthy.

Keep doing what you have learned and received from me, what you have heard and seen me doing; then the God who gives shalom will be with you.

In union with the Lord I greatly rejoice that now, after this long time, you have let your concern for me express itself again. Of course, you were concerned for me all along, but you had no opportunity to express it.

Not that I am saying this to call attention to any need of mine; since, as far as I am concerned, I have learned to be content regardless of circumstances.

I know what it is to be in want, and I know what it is to have more than enough — in everything and in every way I have learned the secret of being full and being hungry, of having abundance and being in need.

I can do all things through him who gives me power.