Letters to the Churches

That I may know him, and the vertue of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his afflictions, and be made conformable vnto his death,

If by any meanes I might attaine vnto the resurrection of the dead:

Not as though I had alreadie attained to it, either were alreadie perfect: but I follow, if that I may comprehend that for whose sake also I am comprehended of Christ Iesus.

Brethren, I count not my selfe, that I haue attained to it, but one thing I doe: I forget that which is behinde, and endeuour my selfe vnto that which is before,

And follow hard toward the marke, for the prise of the hie calling of God in Christ Iesus.

Let vs therefore as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if yee be otherwise minded, God shall reueile euen the same vnto you.

Neuerthelesse, in that whereunto wee are come, let vs proceede by one rule, that wee may minde one thing.

Brethren, bee followers of mee, and looke on them, which walke so, as yee haue vs for an ensample.

For many walke, of whom I haue told you often, and nowe tell you weeping, that they are the enemies of the Crosse of Christ:

Whose ende is damnation, whose God is their bellie, and whose glorie is to their shame, which minde earthly things.

But our conuersation is in heauen, from whence also we looke for the Sauiour, euen the Lord Iesus Christ,

Who shall change our vile bodie, that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious body, according to the working, whereby hee is able euen to subdue all things vnto him selfe.

Therefore, my brethre, beloued and longed for, my ioy and my crowne, so continue in the Lord, yee beloued.

I pray Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of one accord in the Lord,

Yea, and I beseech thee, faithfull yokefellow, helpe those women, which laboured with me in the Gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowe labourers, whose names are in the booke of life.

Reioyce in the Lord alway, againe I say, reioyce.

Let your patient minde be knowen vnto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Be nothing carefull, but in all thinges let your requestes be shewed vnto God in praier, and supplication with giuing of thankes.

And the peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding, shall preserue your heartes and mindes in Christ Iesus.

Furthermore, brethre, whatsoeuer things are true, whatsoeuer things are honest, whatsoeuer thinges are iust, whatsoeuer thinges are pure, whatsoeuer thinges are worthie loue, whatsoeuer things are of good report, if there be any vertue, or if there be any praise, thinke on these things,

Which yee haue both learned and receiued, and heard, and seene in mee: those things doe, and the God of peace shalbe with you.

Nowe I reioyce also in the Lord greatly, that nowe at the last your care for mee springeth afresh, wherein notwithstanding ye were careful, but yee lacked opportunitie.

I speake not because of want: for I haue learned in whatsoeuer state I am, therewith to bee content.

And I can be abased, and I can abounde: euery where in all things I am instructed, both to be full, and to be hungrie, and to abounde, and to haue want.

I am able to do al things through the helpe of Christ, which strengtheneth me.