Letters to the Churches

That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings: being made conformable to his death,

If by any means I may attain to the resurrection which is from the dead.

Not as though I had already attained, or were already perfect: but I follow after, if I may by any means apprehend, wherein I am also apprehended by Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended. But one thing I do: Forgetting the things that are behind and stretching forth myself to those that are before,

I press towards the mark, to the prize of the supernal vocation of God in Christ Jesus.

Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing you be otherwise minded, this also God will reveal to you,

Nevertheless, whereunto we are come, that we be of the same mind, let us also continue in the same rule.

Be ye followers of me, brethren: and observe them who walk so as you have our model.

For many walk, of whom I have told you often (and now tell you weeping) that they are enemies of the cross of Christ:

Whose end is destruction: whose God is their belly: and whose glory is in their shame: who mind earthly things.

But our conversation is in heaven: from whence also we look for the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ,

Who will reform the body of our lowness, made like to the body of his glory, according to the operation whereby also he is able to subdue all things unto himself.

Therefore my dearly beloved brethren and most desired, my joy and my crown: so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

I beg of Evodia and I beseech Syntyche to be of one mind in the Lord.

And I entreat thee also, my sincere companion, help those women who have laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement and the rest of my fellow labourers, whose names are in the book of life.

Rejoice in the Lord always: again, I say, rejoice.

Let your modesty be known to all men. The Lord is nigh.

Be nothing solicitous: but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline: think on these things.

The things which you have both learned and received and heard and seen in me, these do ye: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Now I rejoice in the Lord exceedingly that now at length your thought for me hath flourished again, as you did also think; but you were busied.

I speak not as it were for want. For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, to be content therewith.

I know both how to be brought low, and I know how to abound (every where and in all things I am instructed): both to be full and to be hungry: both to abound and to suffer need.

I can do all things in him who strengtheneth me.