Letters to the Churches

to know him, and the power of his rising again, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death,

if anyhow I may attain to the rising again of the dead.

Not that I did already obtain, or have been already perfected; but I pursue, if also I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by the Christ Jesus;

brethren, I do not reckon myself to have laid hold; and one thing--the things behind indeed forgetting, and to the things before stretching forth--

to the mark I pursue for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

As many, therefore, as are perfect--let us think this, and if in anything ye think otherwise, this also shall God reveal to you,

but to what we have come--by the same rule walk, the same thing think;

become followers together of me, brethren, and observe those thus walking, according as ye have us--a pattern;

for many walk of whom many times I told you--and now also weeping tell--the enemies of the cross of the Christ!

whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who the things on earth are minding.

For our citizenship is in the heavens, whence also a Saviour we await--the Lord Jesus Christ--

who shall transform the body of our humiliation to its becoming conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working of his power, even to subject to himself the all things.

So then, my brethren, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand ye in the Lord, beloved.

Euodia I exhort, and Syntyche I exhort, to be of the same mind in the Lord;

and I ask also thee, genuine yoke-fellow, be assisting those women who in the good news did strive along with me, with Clement also, and the others, my fellow-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice;

let your forbearance be known to all men; the Lord is near;

for nothing be anxious, but in everything by prayer, and by supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God;

and the peace of God, that is surpassing all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

As to the rest, brethren, as many things as are true, as many as are grave, as many as are righteous, as many as are pure, as many as are lovely, as many as are of good report, if any worthiness, and if any praise, these things think upon;

the things that also ye did learn, and receive, and hear, and saw in me, those do, and the God of the peace shall be with you.

And I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at length ye flourished again in caring for me, for which also ye were caring, and lacked opportunity;

not that in respect of want I say it , for I did learn in the things in which I am--to be content;

I have known both to be abased, and I have known to abound; in everything and in all things I have been initiated, both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want.

For all things I have strength, in Christ's strengthening me;