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EPHESIANSs

Author: Paul

Date: Around .. 60

Setting: EphesusEphesus was the capital of the Roman province of Asia Minor (present-day Turkey)

and a vital, important commercial center. It was renowned for its magnificent tem-

ple to the Greek goddess Artemis (known as Diana to the Romans). Acts 19 records

dramatic events that unfolded there during Paul’s third missionary journey.

Theme: Building the Body of Christ Paul uses this letter to explain how God has given His people spiritual resources so

that they can fulfill His purpose for the church: to bring praise and glory to Himself

(Eph. 1). Paul also explains how God has reconciled believers both to Himself and to

one another as members of Christ’s body, the church.

In Ephesians, Paul also pleads for the unity of the church based on the fact that

Jew and Gentile are reconciled by the work of Christ upon the cross. He describes

the believer’s position in Christ and God’s purpose for the world as accomplished

through the church. Paul reminds the believers in Ephesus of the vast spiritualblessings they have received through Christ and describes how Christians learn a

spiritual walk rooted in their spiritual wealth.

InsightsPaul called the Ephesians to a life of unity with one another and loyalty to the cause

of Christ.

God has blessed America in many ways. Perhaps our greatest strength lies in the

unity of a people who are loyal to a flag and committed to the cause “for which it

stands.” One American who wished to remain anonymous once spoke these words,“If you are ashamed to stand by your colors, you had better seek another flag.” As a

nation, we can learn much from Paul’s exhortation to the Ephesians: “bearing with

one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”

(Eph. 4:2, 3).

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18the eyes of your understandinga beingenlightened; that you may know whatis the hope of His calling, what are theriches of the glory of His inheritance inthe saints, 19and what is the exceeding

greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working ofHis mighty power 20which He workedin Christ when He raised Him fromthe dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21far aboveall principality and power and mightand dominion, and every name that isnamed, not only in this age but also inthat which is to come.

22And He put all things under Hisfeet, and gave Him to be head over allthings to the church, 23which is His body,the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

By Grace Through Faith

2 And you He made alive, who weredead in trespasses and sins, 2in

which you once walked according to the

course of this world, according to theprince of the power of the air, the spiritwho now works in the sons of disobe-dience, 3among whom also we all onceconducted ourselves in the lusts of ourflesh, fulfilling the desires of the fleshand of the mind, and were by naturechildren of wrath, just as the others.

4But God, who is rich in mercy, be-cause of His great love with which He

loved us, 5even when we were dead intrespasses, made us alive together withChrist (by grace you have been saved),6and raised us up together, and madeus sit together in the heavenly places inChrist Jesus, 7that in the ages to comeHe might show the exceeding riches ofHis grace in His kindness toward usin Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have

been saved through faith, and that not

of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9notof works, lest anyone should boast. 10Forwe are His workmanship, created inChrist Jesus for good works, which Godprepared beforehand that we shouldwalk in them.

Brought Near by His Blood11

Therefore remember that you,

once Gentiles in the flesh—who are

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ bythe will of God,

To the saints who are in Ephesus,and faithful in Christ Jesus:

2Grace to you and peace from Godour Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Redemption in Christ 3Blessed be the God and Father of

our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessedus with every spiritual blessing in the

heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as Hechose us in Him before the foundationof the world, that we should be holy andwithout blame before Him in love, 5 hav-ing predestined us to adoption as sons

by Jesus Christ to Himself, accordingto the good pleasure of His will, 6to thepraise of the glory of His grace, by whichHe made us accepted in the Beloved.

7In Him we have redemption throughHis blood, the forgiveness of sins, ac-

cording to the riches of His grace8

whichHe made to abound toward us in allwisdom and prudence, 9 having madeknown to us the mystery of His will, ac-cording to His good pleasure which Hepurposed in Himself, 10that in the dis-pensation of the fullness of the times Hemight gather together in one all thingsin Christ, botha which are in heaven andwhich are on earth— in Him. 11In Him

also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the pur-pose of Him who works all things ac-cording to the counsel of His will, 12thatwe who first trusted in Christ should beto the praise of His glory.

13In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel ofyour salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy

Spirit of promise, 14whoa is the guaran-tee of our inheritance until the redemp-tion of the purchased possession, to thepraise of His glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom15

Therefore I also, after I heard ofyour faith in the Lord Jesus and your

love for all the saints, 16do not cease togive thanks for you, making mentionof you in my prayers: 17that the God ofour Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glo-ry, may give to you the spirit of wisdomand revelation in the knowledge of Him,

1:10 a NU-Text and M-Text omit both. 1:14 a NU-Text reads which. 1:18 a NU-Textand M-Text read hearts.

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A BIOGRAPHY

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

E P H E S I A N S 2 : 10

Ida Scudder was the granddaughter of the first medical missionary to India.Seven of her grandfather’s children followed him into mission work; one ofthose seven was Ida’s father. In all, out of four generations, forty-two membersof the Scudder family followed the Lord’s call to be missionaries to the suffer-ing people of India. Though it was never her plan for her life, Ida found herselfamong the ranks of Scudder missionaries.

Ida was born in India; it was the only life she had really ever known. But she

could not wait to leave the poverty, hunger, and desperation of India behind;Ida wanted to be in the United States; she wanted to be an ordinary Amer-ican girl and have a carefree, happy life; and preteen Ida wanted to marry amillionaire.

It seemed Ida might get her dream when her parents returned to the Stateson furlough. Young Ida was thrilled to be embarking on a new life half a worldaway from that “horrible country, with its heat, dust, noise, and smells.” Buther joy was short-lived; two years later, her mother and father returned to India,

leaving Ida in the care of relatives in Chicago. Though Ida suffered ongoinggrief from the separation, she had no desire to ever become a missionary.Ida remained in the U.S., graduated from high school, and continued her

studies at a young ladies’ seminary founded by D. L. Moody.Shortly after graduation in 1890, Ida’s mother fell gravely ill. Ida found

herself on her way back to India to care for her mother. She had every intentionof returning to her American dreams as soon as possible.

One night during this time, three young women went into labor simulta-

neously; three young husbands begged Ida to attend the childbirth. ThoughIda’s father was a doctor, none of the women would accept his care for suchan intimate condition. Ida did all she could, but the next morning, all threeyoung women were dead. Ida prayed and struggled as she contemplated theplight of the women of India. In the end, Ida told her parents she would bereturning to the States to become a doctor. She had heard and obeyed theLord’s call to become a medical missionary.

After graduating from Cornell Medical College in 1900, Dr. Ida Scudderreturned to India. She brought with her ten thousand dollars, donated by a

wealthy American woman to build a hospital. It was two years before the

Ida Scudder1870–1960

SERVICE

Continued on next page.1343



Christ Our Cornerstone19Now, therefore, you are no longer

strangers and foreigners, but fellow citi-

zens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been builton the foundation of the apostles andprophets, Jesus Christ Himself being thechief cornerstone, 21in whom the whole

building, being fitted together, growsinto a holy temple in the Lord, 22inwhom you also are being built togetherfor a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

The Mystery Revealed

3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisonerof Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2if

indeed you have heard of the dispensa-tion of the grace of God which was givento me for you, 3 how that by revelationHe made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which,when you read, you may understand my

knowledge in the mystery of Christ),5which in other ages was not madeknown to the sons of men, as it has now

been revealed by the Spirit to His holy

called Uncircumcision by what is calledthe Circumcision made in the flesh by

hands— 12that at that time you were

without Christ, being aliens from thecommonwealth of Israel and strangersfrom the covenants of promise, havingno hope and without God in the world.13But now in Christ Jesus you who oncewere far off have been brought near bythe blood of Christ.

Christ Our Peace14For He Himself is our peace, who

has made both one, and has brokendown the middle wall of separation,15 having abolished in His flesh the en-mity, that is, the law of commandmentscontained in ordinances, so as to createin Himself one new man from the two,thus making peace, 16and that He mightreconcile them both to God in one bodythrough the cross, thereby putting todeath the enmity. 17And He came andpreached peace to you who were afaroff and to those who were near. 18Forthrough Him we both have access by oneSpirit to the Father.

For more on Service, see the articles on pages 888, 1082, 1145, 1148, 1180, 1238, 1326, 1384 & 1394.

hospital was built; meanwhile, Ida worked out of one small room in her home,set up as a dispensary. The initial distrust of a woman doctor soon wore off,and Ida often treated several hundred patients a day. She was known to sigh,“Oh, for the quiet order of a well-run insane asylum!” One journal entry read,

“Long and intensely interesting day. 478 patients with 77 lepers.”In order to meet the staggering demand for medical help, Ida opened anursing school. Her first class graduated in 1905, but Ida’s vision did not endthere. She began training women as doctors; the first class graduated in 1922.By 1928, the school was officially a medical college that would one day becomeVellore Medical College, a highly respected, coed educational complex.

Many times the school struggled financially, but through Ida’s herculeanefforts, medical educations continued. Her own words show her dedication

and determination: “First ponder, then dare. Know your facts. Count the cost.Money is not the most important thing. What you are building is not a medicalschool. It is the kingdom of God. Don’t err on the side of being too small. Ifthis is the will of God that we should keep the college open, it has to be done.”

Ida never married a millionaire, but she did get to live in a mansion whenshe retired. The beautiful home in India was sold to her at a bargain price. Shelived her last years there, gardening and keeping her eye on the nearby hospitaland medical school.

To this day, the example of Ida and her family calls out to the body of Christin our nation, spurring us on toward love and good works.

1344EPHESIANS 2:12



that works in us, 21to Him be glory inthe church by Christ Jesus to all genera-tions, forever and ever. Amen.

Walk in Unity

4 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the

calling with which you were called,2with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one anotherin love, 3endeavoring to keep the unityof the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 Thereis one body and one Spirit, just as youwere called in one hope of your calling;5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6oneGod and Father of all, who is above all,and through all, and in youa all.

Spiritual Gifts7But to each one of us grace was giv-

en according to the measure of Christ’sgift. 8 Therefore He says:

“When He ascended on high,He led captivity captive,

And gave gifts to men.”

a

9(Now this, “He ascended” —what doesit mean but that He also first a descendedinto the lower parts of the earth? 10Hewho descended is also the One who as-cended far above all the heavens, that Hemight fill all things.)

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evange-

lists, and some pastors and teachers,12for the equipping of the saints for thework of ministry, for the edifying ofthe body of Christ, 13till we all come tothe unity of the faith and of the knowl-edge of the Son of God, to a perfectman, to the measure of the stature ofthe fullness of Christ; 14that we shouldno longer be children, tossed to and froand carried about with every wind of

doctrine, by the trickery of men, in thecunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,15 but, speaking the truth in love, maygrow up in all things into Him who isthe head—Christ— 16from whom thewhole body, joined and knit together bywhat every joint supplies, according tothe effective working by which every

apostles and prophets: 6that the Gentilesshould be fellow heirs, of the same body,and partakers of His promise in Christthrough the gospel, 7of which I becamea minister according to the gift of the

grace of God given to me by the effectiveworking of His power.

Purpose of the Mystery8

To me, who am less than the least ofall the saints, this grace was given, thatI should preach among the Gentiles theunsearchable riches of Christ, 9and tomake all see what is the fellowshipa ofthe mystery, which from the beginningof the ages has been hidden in God whocreated all things through Jesus Christ; b 10to the intent that now the manifoldwisdom of God might be made known

by the church to the principalities andpowers in the heavenly places, 11accord-ing to the eternal purpose which Heaccomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,12in whom we have boldness and access

with confidence through faith in Him.13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose

heart at my tribulations for you, whichis your glory.

Appreciation of the Mystery14For this reason I bow my knees to

the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,a 15from whom the whole family in heav-en and earth is named, 16that He would

grant you, according to the riches of Hisglory, to be strengthened with mightthrough His Spirit in the inner man,17that Christ may dwell in your heartsthrough faith; that you, being rootedand grounded in love, 18may be able tocomprehend with all the saints whatis the width and length and depth and

height— 19to know the love of Christwhich passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20Now to Him who is able to do ex-ceedingly abundantly above all that weask or think, according to the power

Each of us is called to serve our

own generation.

A. Wetherell Johnson1907–1984

3:9 a NU-Text and M-Text read stewardship

(dispensation). b NU-Text omits through JesusChrist. 3:14 a NU-Text omits of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4:6 a NU-Text omits you; M-Text reads us. 4:8 a Psalm 68:184:9 a NU-Text omits first.

1345 EPHESIANS 4:16



among you, as is fitting for saints; 4nei-ther filthiness, nor foolish talking, norcoarse jesting, which are not fitting, butrather giving of thanks. 5For this youknow,a that no fornicator, unclean per-

son, nor covetous man, who is an idola-ter, has any inheritance in the kingdomof Christ and God. 6Let no one deceiveyou with empty words, for because ofthese things the wrath of God comesupon the sons of disobedience. 7 There-fore do not be partakers with them.

part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

The New Man17

This I say, therefore, and testify

in the Lord, that you should no longerwalk as the rest of a the Gentiles walk,in the futility of their mind, 18 havingtheir understanding darkened, beingalienated from the life of God, becauseof the ignorance that is in them, becauseof the blindness of their heart; 19who,

being past feeling, have given them-selves over to lewdness, to work all un-cleanness with greediness.

20But you have not so learned Christ,21if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth isin Jesus: 22that you put off, concerningyour former conduct, the old man whichgrows corrupt according to the deceitful

lusts, 23and be renewed in the spirit ofyour mind, 24and that you put on thenew man which was created accordingto God, in true righteousness and holi-ness.

Do Not Grieve the Spirit 25

Therefore, putting away lying,“ Let each one of you speak truth withhis neighbor,” a for we are members ofone another. 26“Be angry, and do notsin” :a do not let the sun go down onyour wrath, 27nor give place to the devil.28

Let him who stole steal no longer, butrather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may havesomething to give him who has need.29Let no corrupt word proceed out ofyour mouth, but what is good for neces-sary edification, that it may impart graceto the hearers. 30And do not grieve theHoly Spirit of God, by whom you weresealed for the day of redemption. 31Let

all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, andevil speaking be put away from you,with all malice. 32And be kind to one an-other, tenderhearted, forgiving one an-other, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Walk in Love

5 Therefore be imitators of God asdear children. 2And walk in love, as

Christ also has loved us and given Him-self for us, an offering and a sacrifice toGod for a sweet-smelling aroma.

3But fornication and all uncleannessor covetousness, let it not even be named

God asks husbands to love their

wives enough to die for them. He

asks wives to love their husbands

enough to live for them.

Betty S. Bender1927–

Walk in Light 8For you were once darkness, but

now you are light in the Lord. Walk aschildren of light 9(for the fruit of theSpirit a is in all goodness, righteous-ness, and truth), 10finding out what isacceptable to the Lord. 11And have nofellowship with the unfruitful works ofdarkness, but rather expose them. 12For

it is shameful even to speak of thosethings which are done by them in se-cret. 13But all things that are exposed aremade manifest by the light, for whatevermakes manifest is light. 14 Therefore Hesays:

“Awake, you who sleep,Arise from the dead,And Christ will give you light.”

Walk in Wisdom15See then that you walk circum-

spectly, not as fools but as wise, 16re-deeming the time, because the days areevil.

17 Therefore do not be unwise, but

understand what the will of the Lordis. 18And do not be drunk with wine, inwhich is dissipation; but be filled with

4:17 a NU-Text omits the rest of. 4:25 a Zechariah 8:16 4:26 a Psalm 4:45:5 a NU-Text reads For know this. 5:9 a NU-Text reads light.

1346EPHESIANS 4:17



eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bond-servants of Christ, doing the will of Godfrom the heart, 7with goodwill doingservice, as to the Lord, and not to men,8knowing that whatever good anyone

does, he will receive the same from theLord, whether he is a slave or free.

the Spirit, 19speaking to one another inpsalms and hymns and spiritual songs,singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20giving thanks alwaysfor all things to God the Father in the

name of our Lord Jesus Christ,21

submit-ting to one another in the fear of God.a

Marriage—Christ and the Church22

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23For the husbandis head of the wife, as also Christ is headof the church; and He is the Savior ofthe body. 24 Therefore, just as the churchis subject to Christ, so let the wives be to

their own husbands in everything.25Husbands, love your wives, just as

Christ also loved the church and gaveHimself for her, 26that He might sancti-fy and cleanse her with the washing ofwater by the word, 27that He might pre-sent her to Himself a glorious church,not having spot or wrinkle or any suchthing, but that she should be holy andwithout blemish. 28So husbands ought to

love their own wives as their own bod-ies; he who loves his wife loves himself.29For no one ever hated his own flesh,

but nourishes and cherishes it, just asthe Lord does the church. 30For we aremembers of His body,a of His flesh andof His bones. 31“For this reason a manshall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall be-

come one flesh.”

a

32

This is a great mys-tery, but I speak concerning Christ andthe church. 33Nevertheless let each oneof you in particular so love his own wifeas himself, and let the wife see that sherespects her husband.

Children and Parents

6 Children, obey your parents in theLord, for this is right. 2“Honor your

father and mother,” which is the firstcommandment with promise: 3“that itmay be well with you and you may livelong on the earth.”

a

4And you, fathers, do not provokeyour children to wrath, but bring themup in the training and admonition of theLord.

Bondservants and Masters5Bondservants, be obedient to those

who are your masters according to theflesh, with fear and trembling, in sin-cerity of heart, as to Christ; 6not with

Steadfast in the FaithEphesians 6:10

W ithin Ephesians 6:13, 14 are the words, “Having done all to stand.

Stand.” Granted, to extract only theseportions of the whole ignores any punc-tuation and blends two thoughts. How-ever, the resulting statement is a powerful

directive. In it resides the definition ofsteadfast.

A steadfast heart requires two ele-ments: one must be convinced of truthand willing to take risks in defense ofthat truth. roughout our history, thecause of freedom has prompted millionsof men and women to risk all; the truththat all are created equal lies at the heart

of that cause. Yet even more striking arethe numbers of the faithful who havesteadfastly held to faith.

In considering this virtue, many women who have helped form our coun-try come to mind. Perhaps one of thegreatest examples of a steadfast soul isfound in Queen Liliuokalani of Hawaii.ough her faith and her beliefs weresorely tried by those who attempted topervert the Christian faith, Liliuokalaniheld fast to her convictions. She deter-mined to live her life based on the life andteachings of her Lord. She allowed God’s

wisdom to guide her in her choices, tooka stand on the foundation of her faith,and would not be moved. Her legacy still

lives as a beacon to all, of the incredibleinfluence of one who holds steadfastly toa vibrant and sure faith.

For more on Truth, see pages 1167 & 1217.

TRUTH

5:21 a NU-Text reads Christ. 5:30 a NU-Textomits the rest of this verse. 5:31 a Genesis2:24 6:3 a Deuteronomy 5:16

1347 EPHESIANS 6:8



it, which is the word of God; 18prayingalways with all prayer and supplicationin the Spirit, being watchful to this endwith all perseverance and supplicationfor all the saints— 19and for me, that ut-

terance may be given to me, that I mayopen my mouth boldly to make knownthe mystery of the gospel, 20for which Iam an ambassador in chains; that in itI may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

A Gracious Greeting21But that you also may know my af-

fairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister inthe Lord, will make all things known toyou; 22whom I have sent to you for thisvery purpose, that you may know ouraffairs, and that he may comfort your hearts.

23Peace to the brethren, and lovewith faith, from God the Father and theLord Jesus Christ. 24Grace be with allthose who love our Lord Jesus Christ in

sincerity. Amen.

9And you, masters, do the samethings to them, giving up threatening,knowing that your own Master alsoa isin heaven, and there is no partiality withHim.

The Whole Armor of God10Finally, my brethren, be strong in

the Lord and in the power of His might.11Put on the whole armor of God, thatyou may be able to stand against thewiles of the devil. 12For we do not wres-tle against flesh and blood, but againstprincipalities, against powers, againstthe rulers of the darkness of this age,a

against spiritual hosts of wickedness inthe heavenly places. 13 Therefore take upthe whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14Stand therefore, having girdedyour waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and hav-ing shod your feet with the preparationof the gospel of peace; 16above all, takingthe shield of faith with which you will

be able to quench all the fiery darts ofthe wicked one. 17And take the helmetof salvation, and the sword of the Spir-

6:9 a NU-Text reads He who is both their Masterand yours. 6:12 a NU-Text reads rulers of thisdarkness.

1348EPHESIANS 6:9



PHILIPPIANSs

Author: Paul

Date: Around .. 60

Setting: PhilippiPhilippi, named for Philip of Macedon (the father of Alexander the Great), was the

leading city of Macedonia (present-day Greece), and was also granted the status of

a Roman colony. For the Philippians, this designation made a tremendous social

and psychological difference. Like all other Roman citizens, they were exempt from

taxes, could buy and sell as they pleased, could file legal suits, and could assumeprivileges appropriate to being part of the Roman Empire.

Theme: To Live Is Christ Philippians is an epistle of joy and encouragement in the midst of adverse circum-

stances. Paul writes a letter of thanks to the believers in Philippi for their help in a

time of need, and he lovingly urges them to center their actions and thoughts on

the pursuit of the person and power of Christ. His central thought is simple: only

in Christ are real unity and joy possible. With Christ as our model of humility and

service, we can enjoy oneness of purpose, attitude, goal, and labor.InsightsAfter Paul arrived in Philippi, he met a wealthy woman named Lydia, who believed

in the gospel (Acts 16). Once she and her household were baptized, she opened up

her home and invited Paul and his fellow workers to stay with her. She gave her

life to Christ and immediately began practicing hospitality to her fellow believers.

Just like American women Martha Washington, Dolley Madison, and Sarah Edwards,

Lydia leaves a beautiful legacy of faith and hospitality.

1349



To Live Is Christ 19For I know that this will turn out

for my deliverance through your prayerand the supply of the Spirit of JesusChrist, 20according to my earnest expec-

tation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, asalways, so now also Christ will be mag-nified in my body, whether by life or

Greeting

1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus whoare in Philippi, with the bishopsa anddeacons:

2Grace to you and peace from Godour Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thankfulness and Prayer3I thank my God upon every remem-

brance of you, 4always in every prayer ofmine making request for you all with joy,5for your fellowship in the gospel fromthe first day until now, 6 being confidentof this very thing, that He who has be-gun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; 7 just as it isright for me to think this of you all, be-cause I have you in my heart, inasmuchas both in my chains and in the defenseand confirmation of the gospel, you allare partakers with me of grace. 8For God

is my witness, how greatly I long for youall with the affection of Jesus Christ.9And this I pray, that your love may

abound still more and more in knowl-edge and all discernment, 10that youmay approve the things that are excel-

lent, that you may be sincere and with-out offense till the day of Christ, 11 beingfilled with the fruits of righteousnesswhich are by Jesus Christ, to the glory

and praise of God.

Christ Is Preached12But I want you to know, brethren,

that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the further-ance of the gospel, 13so that it has be-come evident to the whole palace guard,and to all the rest, that my chains are inChrist; 14and most of the brethren in the

Lord, having become confident by mychains, are much more bold to speak theword without fear.

15Some indeed preach Christ evenfrom envy and strife, and some also fromgoodwill: 16

The former

a preach Christfrom selfish ambition, not sincerely,supposing to add affliction to my chains;17 but the latter out of love, knowing thatI am appointed for the defense of thegospel. 18 What then? Only that in everyway, whether in pretense or in truth,Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice,yes, and will rejoice.

Mother of Sing SingPhilippians 1:27

In 1921, Lewis E. Lawes and his wifeKathryn moved to New York. He

had taken a job as warden of Sing Singprison. e institution had a reputationfor being a hard, tough place, devoid of

hope. By the time he retired, Sing Singhad undergone an incredible transforma-tion; Lewis credited his wife, Kathryn.

Kathryn went to the prison yard al-most every day. She even took their threelittle girls to the weekly prison basket-ball game. It never occurred to her thatthere might be any danger. “We care forthe boys, and they care for us,” she used

to say. She made it possible for a blindprisoner to learn to read Braille, and shelearned sign language so that she couldcommunicate with a deaf prisoner who

worked in her home. She saw the specialburden carried by prisoners’ families, andoften brought their wives to her home tominister encouragement to them.

e men called her “Mother” and hadher picture on their walls. By her lovingexample, she brought a new spirit to theprison, a spirit of kindness and hope.

When she died, the men wanted to sayfarewell to their “Mother,” whose loveand trust had touched them so deeply.Out of respect, the prisoners marchedtwo abreast— without guards—from Sing

Sing to her home to walk past her casket,and then every one of them returned tothe prison.

For more on Hopefulness, see pages 868 & 1364.

HOPEFULNESS

1:1 a Literally overseers 1:16 a NU-Textreverses the contents of verses 16 and 17.

1350PHILIPPIANS 1:1



name, 10that at the name of Jesus everyknee should bow, of those in heaven,and of those on earth, and of those un-der the earth, 11and that every tongueshould confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Light Bearers12

Therefore, my beloved, as you havealways obeyed, not as in my presenceonly, but now much more in my ab-sence, work out your own salvation withfear and trembling; 13for it is God whoworks in you both to will and to do for

His good pleasure.14Do all things without complainingand disputing, 15that you may become blameless and harmless, children of Godwithout fault in the midst of a crooked

by death. 21For to me, to live is Christ,and to die is gain. 22But if I live on inthe flesh, this will mean fruit from my

labor; yet what I shall choose I cannottell. 23For

a I am hard-pressed between

the two, having a desire to depart and bewith Christ, which is far better. 24Never-theless to remain in the flesh is moreneedful for you. 25And being confidentof this, I know that I shall remain andcontinue with you all for your progressand joy of faith, 26that your rejoicingfor me may be more abundant in JesusChrist by my coming to you again.

Striving and Suffering for Christ 27Only let your conduct be worthy

of the gospel of Christ, so that wheth-er I come and see you or am absent, Imay hear of your affairs, that you standfast in one spirit, with one mind striv-ing together for the faith of the gospel,28and not in any way terrified by youradversaries, which is to them a proof ofperdition, but to you of salvation,a andthat from God. 29For to you it has beengranted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Hissake, 30 having the same conflict whichyou saw in me and now hear is in me.

Unity Through Humility

2 Therefore if there is any consolationin Christ, if any comfort of love, if

any fellowship of the Spirit, if any af-fection and mercy, 2fulfill my joy by be-ing like-minded, having the same love,

being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambitionor conceit, but in lowliness of mind leteach esteem others better than himself.4Let each of you look out not only for hisown interests, but also for the interestsof others.

The Humbled and Exalted Christ 5Let this mind be in you which was

also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in theform of God, did not consider it robberyto be equal with God, 7 but made Himselfof no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likenessof men. 8And being found in appearanceas a man, He humbled Himself and be-came obedient to the point of death, eventhe death of the cross. 9 Therefore Godalso has highly exalted Him and givenHim the name which is above every

Secret ConcernPhilippians 2:4

A nna Harrison is the First Lady whonever made it to Washington. She

was ill at the time of her husband’s in-auguration, so she stayed home. One

month later, before she was fully recov-ered, William Henry Harrison died ofpneumonia—most likely a result of beingthoroughly chilled at his inauguration.

Anna lived to be eighty-eight yearsold, outliving all but one of her ten chil-dren. Many years after her death, thistestimony was written about her:

Every public and private charity was near her heart, and receivedliberally from her hand. But those who enjoyed her bounty knew notits source. To a poor minister she would write, “Accept this triflefrom a friend.” To the Bethel Sab-bath School, “is is but a widow’smite.” To the suffering poor of

the country, “Please distributethis from one who wishes it was athousand times more.”

For more on Generosity, see pages 1172 & 1266.

GENEROSITY

1:23 a NU-Text and M- Text read But. 1:28 a NU-Text reads of your salvation.

1351 PHILIPPIANS 2:15



If anyone else thinks he may have con-fidence in the flesh, I more so: 5circum-cised the eighth day, of the stock of Is-rael, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrewof the Hebrews; concerning the law, a

Pharisee;6

concerning zeal, persecutingthe church; concerning the righteous-ness which is in the law, blameless.

7But what things were gain to me,these I have counted loss for Christ.8

Yet indeed I also count all things lossfor the excellence of the knowledge ofChrist Jesus my Lord, for whom I havesuffered the loss of all things, and countthem as rubbish, that I may gain Christ9and be found in Him, not having myown righteousness, which is from the

law, but that which is through faith inChrist, the righteousness which is fromGod by faith; 10that I may know Himand the power of His resurrection, andthe fellowship of His sufferings, beingconformed to His death, 11if, by anymeans, I may attain to the resurrectionfrom the dead.

Pressing Toward the Goal12Not that I have already attained, or

am already perfected; but I press on, thatI may lay hold of that for which Christ

Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13Breth-ren, I do not count myself to have ap-prehended; but one thing I do, forget-ting those things which are behind and

reaching forward to those things whichare ahead, 14I press toward the goal forthe prize of the upward call of God inChrist Jesus.

15 Therefore let us, as many as are

mature, have this mind; and if in any-thing you think otherwise, God will re-veal even this to you. 16Nevertheless, tothe degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule,a let us be of

the same mind.

Our Citizenship in Heaven17Brethren, join in following my ex-

ample, and note those who so walk, asyou have us for a pattern. 18For manywalk, of whom I have told you often,and now tell you even weeping, that theyare the enemies of the cross of Christ:19

whose end is destruction, whose god

and perverse generation, among whomyou shine as lights in the world, 16 hold-ing fast the word of life, so that I mayrejoice in the day of Christ that I havenot run in vain or labored in vain.

17 Yes, and if I am being poured out asa drink offering on the sacrifice and ser-

vice of your faith, I am glad and rejoicewith you all. 18For the same reason youalso be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy Commended19But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send

Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.20For I have no one like- minded, whowill sincerely care for your state. 21Forall seek their own, not the things whichare of Christ Jesus. 22But you know hisproven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.23

Therefore I hope to send him at once,as soon as I see how it goes with me.24But I trust in the Lord that I myselfshall also come shortly.

Epaphroditus Praised25

Yet I considered it necessary tosend to you Epaphroditus, my brother,fellow worker, and fellow soldier, butyour messenger and the one who minis-tered to my need; 26since he was longingfor you all, and was distressed becauseyou had heard that he was sick. 27For

indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not onlyon him but on me also, lest I should havesorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. 29Receive him thereforein the Lord with all gladness, and holdsuch men in esteem; 30 because for thework of Christ he came close to death,

not regarding his life, to supply whatwas lacking in your service toward me.

All for Christ

3 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in theLord. For me to write the same

things to you is not tedious, but for youit is safe.

2Beware of dogs, beware of evil work-ers, beware of the mutilation! 3For weare the circumcision, who worship Godin the Spirit,a rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4thoughI also might have confidence in the flesh.

3:3 a NU-Text and M- Text read who worship inthe Spirit of God. 3:16 a NU-Text omits rule and the rest of the verse.

1352PHILIPPIANS 2:16



is anything praiseworthy— meditate onthese things. 9

The things which you learned and received and heard and sawin me, these do, and the God of peacewill be with you.

Philippian Generosity10But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly

that now at last your care for me hasflourished again; though you surely didcare, but you lacked opportunity. 11Notthat I speak in regard to need, for I have

learned in whatever state I am, to becontent: 12I know how to be abased, andI know how to abound. Everywhere and

in all things I have learned both to befull and to be hungry, both to aboundand to suffer need. 13I can do all thingsthrough Christ a who strengthens me.

14Nevertheless you have done wellthat you shared in my distress. 15Nowyou Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departedfrom Macedonia, no church shared withme concerning giving and receiving butyou only. 16For even in Thessalonicayou sent aid once and again for my ne-cessities. 17Not that I seek the gift, but Iseek the fruit that abounds to your ac-count. 18Indeed I have all and abound. Iam full, having received from Epaphro-ditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice,well pleasing to God. 19And my God

shall supply all your need accordingto His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.20Now to our God and Father be gloryforever and ever. Amen.

Greeting and Blessing21Greet every saint in Christ Jesus.

The brethren who are with me greetyou. 22All the saints greet you, but espe-cially those who are of Caesar’s house-

hold.23

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.a Amen.

is their belly, and whose glory is in theirshame—who set their mind on earthlythings. 20For our citizenship is in heav-en, from which we also eagerly wait forthe Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who

will transform our lowly body that itmay be conformed to His glorious body,according to the working by which Heis able even to subdue all things to Him-self.

4 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so

stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

Be United, Joyful, and in Prayer2I implore Euodia and I implore Syn-

tyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.3Anda I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with mein the gospel, with Clement also, and therest of my fellow workers, whose namesare in the Book of Life.

4Rejoice in the Lord always. Again Iwill say, rejoice!

5Let your gentleness be known to allmen. The Lord is at hand.

6Be anxious for nothing, but ineverything by prayer and supplication,with thanksgiving, let your requests bemade known to God; 7and the peace ofGod, which surpasses all understand-ing, will guard your hearts and mindsthrough Christ Jesus.

Meditate on These Things8Finally, brethren, whatever thingsare true, whatever things are noble,whatever things are just, whateverthings are pure, whatever things are

lovely, whatever things are of good re-port, if there is any virtue and if there

What we are is God’s gift to us.What we become is our gift to God.

Eleanor Powell1912–1982

4:3 a NU-Text and M-Text read Yes. 4:13 a NU-Text reads Him who. 4:23 a NU-Text reads your spirit.

1353 PHILIPPIANS 4:23



COLOSSIANSs

Author: Paul

Date: Around .. 60

Setting: ColosseThe city of Colosse was about one hundred miles from Ephesus and the church at

Colosse was a predominantly Gentile church. The faith of these new converts was

being distorted by false teachings and mysticism. It was also being threatened by

some claiming Jewish laws and customs were needed for salvation.

Theme: The Preeminence of Christ Colossians is perhaps the most Christ-centered book in the Bible. Paul stresses the

preeminence of Christ and the completeness of the salvation He provides. A prop-

er view of Christ is always the most powerful antidote to heresy. The Colossians

needed to guard the truth of the gospel and Paul was equipping them to do so. He

also provides Christian readers with a practical theology for day-to-day living and

growth in the faith.

Insights“This We’ll Defend” is the motto of the U.S. Army. Those three simple words carryprofound meaning. Our nation is worth defending, by each citizen. For the average

American, this defense may look like helping one another in a time of crisis or

standing up for the truths upon which we were founded.

As a citizen of the kingdom of God, Paul defended the truth of the gospel and,

through his words, encourages all Christians to do the same. True understanding of

who Christ is will always be worth defending with everything we have.

1354



is the beginning, the firstborn from thedead, that in all things He may have thepreeminence.

Reconciled in Christ

19For it pleased the Father that inHim all the fullness should dwell, 20and

by Him to reconcile all things to Him-self, by Him, whether things on earthor things in heaven, having made peacethrough the blood of His cross.

21And you, who once were alienat-ed and enemies in your mind by wickedworks, yet now He has reconciled 22inthe body of His flesh through death, topresent you holy, and blameless, andabove reproach in His sight— 23if indeedyou continue in the faith, grounded andsteadfast, and are not moved away fromthe hope of the gospel which you heard,which was preached to every creatureunder heaven, of which I, Paul, becamea minister.

Sacrificial Service for Christ 24I now rejoice in my sufferings foryou, and fill up in my flesh what is lack-ing in the afflictions of Christ, for thesake of His body, which is the church,25of which I became a minister accord-ing to the stewardship from God whichwas given to me for you, to fulfill theword of God, 26the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from genera-

tions, but now has been revealed to Hissaints. 27

To them God willed to makeknown what are the riches of the glo-ry of this mystery among the Gentiles:whicha is Christ in you, the hope of glo-ry. 28Him we preach, warning every manand teaching every man in all wisdom,that we may present every man perfectin Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor,striving according to His working whichworks in me mightily.

Not Philosophy but Christ

2 For I want you to know what a greatconflict I have for you and those in

Laodicea, and for as many as have notseen my face in the flesh, 2that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit to-gether in love, and attaining to all riches

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ bythe will of God, and Timothy our

brother,

2 To the saints and faithful brethren

in Christ who are in Colosse:

Grace to you and peace from God ourFather and the Lord Jesus Christ.a

Their Faith in Christ 3

We give thanks to the God and Fa-ther of our Lord Jesus Christ, prayingalways for you, 4since we heard of yourfaith in Christ Jesus and of your lovefor all the saints; 5 because of the hopewhich is laid up for you in heaven, ofwhich you heard before in the word ofthe truth of the gospel, 6which has cometo you, as it has also in all the world,and is bringing forth fruit,a as it is alsoamong you since the day you heard andknew the grace of God in truth; 7as youalso learned from Epaphras, our dear

fellow servant, who is a faithful minis-ter of Christ on your behalf, 8who alsodeclared to us your love in the Spirit.

Preeminence of Christ 9For this reason we also, since the

day we heard it, do not cease to pray foryou, and to ask that you may be filledwith the knowledge of His will in allwisdom and spiritual understanding;10

that you may walk worthy of theLord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitfulin every good work and increasing inthe knowledge of God; 11strengthenedwith all might, according to His gloriouspower, for all patience and longsufferingwith joy; 12giving thanks to the Fatherwho has qualified us to be partakers ofthe inheritance of the saints in the light.13He has delivered us from the power of

darkness and conveyed us into the king-dom of the Son of His love, 14in whomwe have redemption through His blood,a the forgiveness of sins.

15He is the image of the invisibleGod, the firstborn over all creation.16For by Him all things were created thatare in heaven and that are on earth, visi- ble and invisible, whether thrones or do-minions or principalities or powers. Allthings were created through Him andfor Him. 17And He is before all things,and in Him all things consist. 18And Heis the head of the body, the church, who

1:2 a NU-Text omits and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1:6 a NU-Text and M-Text add and growing. 1:14 a NU-Text and M- Text omit through His blood. 1:27 a M-Text reads who.

1355 COLOSSIANS 2:2



powers, He made a public spectacle ofthem, triumphing over them in it.

16So let no one judge you in food orin drink, or regarding a festival or a newmoon or sabbaths, 17which are a shadow

of things to come, but the substance is ofChrist. 18Let no one cheat you of yourreward, taking delight in false humilityand worship of angels, intruding intothose things which he has not a seen,vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,19and not holding fast to the Head, fromwhom all the body, nourished and knittogether by joints and ligaments, growswith the increase that is from God.

20 Therefore,a if you died with Christ

from the basic principles of the world,why, as though living in the world, doyou subject yourselves to regulations—21“Do not touch, do not taste, do not

handle,” 22which all concern thingswhich perish with the using— accordingto the commandments and doctrines ofmen? 23

These things indeed have anappearance of wisdom in self- imposedreligion, false humility, and neglect ofthe body, but are of no value against theindulgence of the flesh.

Not Carnality but Christ

3 If then you were raised with Christ,seek those things which are above,

where Christ is, sitting at the right handof God. 2Set your mind on things above,not on things on the earth. 3For youdied, and your life is hidden with Christin God. 4

When Christ who is our lifeappears, then you also will appear withHim in glory.

5 Therefore put to death your mem-

bers which are on the earth: fornication,uncleanness, passion, evil desire, andcovetousness, which is idolatry. 6Be-cause of these things the wrath of God is

coming upon the sons of disobedience,7in which you yourselves once walkedwhen you lived in them.

8But now you yourselves are toput off all these: anger, wrath, malice,

blasphemy, filthy language out of yourmouth. 9Do not lie to one another, sinceyou have put off the old man with hisdeeds, 10and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according

of the full assurance of understanding,to the knowledge of the mystery of God,

both of the Father anda of Christ, 3inwhom are hidden all the treasures ofwisdom and knowledge.

4

Now this I say lest anyone shoulddeceive you with persuasive words. 5Forthough I am absent in the flesh, yet I amwith you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of yourfaith in Christ.

6

As you therefore have receivedChrist Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,7rooted and built up in Him and estab-

lished in the faith, as you have beentaught, abounding in it a with thanks-giving.

8Beware lest anyone cheat youthrough philosophy and empty deceit,according to the tradition of men, ac-cording to the basic principles of the

world, and not according to Christ.9

Forin Him dwells all the fullness of the God- head bodily; 10and you are complete inHim, who is the head of all principalityand power.

Not Legalism but Christ 11In Him you were also circumcised

with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the

sinsa of the flesh, by the circumcision ofChrist, 12 buried with Him in baptism,in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God,who raised Him from the dead. 13Andyou, being dead in your trespasses andthe uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, hav-ing forgiven you all trespasses, 14 havingwiped out the handwriting of require-ments that was against us, which wascontrary to us. And He has taken it outof the way, having nailed it to the cross.15Having disarmed principalities and

I am convinced that the influence

of an army of godly women will be

incalculable—in our homes, our

churches, and our culture.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss1959–

2:2 a NU-Text omits both of the Father and. 2:7 a NU-Text omits in it. 2:11 a NU-Textomits of the sins. 2:18 a NU-Text omits not. 2:20 a NU- Text and M-Text omit Therefore.

1356COLOSSIANS 2:3



A BIOGRAPHY

“If anyone has a complaint against another; even asChrist forgave you, so you also must do.”

C O L O S S I A N S 3 : 1 3

Born April 27, 1927, Coretta Scott grew up on a farm in Alabama. Her parents worked hard to provide her with every advantage they could, but they couldnot provide her freedom from the ills of a segregated society. There were noschool buses for the African- American children, their schools were poorer, they

were barred from restaurants and swimming pools, and signs stating “WhiteOnly” and “Colored Only” were seen everywhere.

Still, Coretta was successful in many ways. Graduating as the valedictorian

from Lincoln High School in 1945, Coretta won a scholarship to AntiochCollege in Yellow Springs, Ohio, where she earned a bachelor of arts in musicand education. Because there was less oppression and division between races inthe North, while in college, Coretta was free to become active in helping teardown barriers. She joined the local chapter of the NAACP, the Race RelationsCommittee, and the Civil Liberties Committee, at the school. It was throughorganizations like these that the modern civil rights movement was born.

In addition to her Antioch degree, Coretta also won a scholarship to study

vocal performance at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. While there, she met a young man who would change the course of her life;Martin Luther King Jr. was studying theology at nearby Boston University. In

June of 1953, they were married.The couple stayed in Boston until Coretta finished her degree in voice and

violin, and then moved to Montgomery, Alabama. Martin had landed a job aspastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. Life seemed settled and secure,and the Kings were ready to start their family. They would soon have four

children: Yolanda, Martin Luther III, Dexter Scott, and Bernice.Racial tension escalated in Montgomery after Rosa Parks was arrested forrefusing to give her bus seat to a white man. The local NAACP chapter de-cided to form the Montgomery Improvement Association in resistance to theunfair treatment. Martin was asked to become the head of the association; heorganized the bus boycott that drew the attention of the world. Thus beganthe splendid career of Martin Luther King Jr.

Coretta was at her husband’s side as he led peaceful protest marches in citiesacross the nation. Both Coretta and Martin were not only committed to fight-ing injustice, but determined to do so by following Jesus’ example of love and

Coretta Scott King 1927–2006

FORGIVENESS




compassion for those doing wrong. Martin became the most well-known voicein the movement, advocating nonviolent resistance and gaining the supportof many thinking Americans with his passionate, yet reasonable and generousattitude. Others involved in the civil rights movement, however, saw the Kingsas weak and an obstacle to the cause of equality. The Kings endured hate mail,threats of all kinds, and even the bombing of their home.

Coretta had an amazing singing voice and had studied music to further hercareer. However, her singing ambitions took a backseat as Coretta raised her fourchildren. Always a woman of dynamic energy, focusing on her family did not keepher from organizing, publicizing, and performing in Freedom Concerts, a seriesof events that told the civil rights story through music, narration, and poetry.

The Kings were both in high demand as speakers, both nationally and inter-nationally. Coretta became the first woman to deliver the Class Day address atHarvard. As an activist for nonviolence, international peace, and disarmament, she

attended the 1962 Disarmament Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, as a delegate. After her husband’s death by a sniper’s bullet on April 4, 1968, Corettachose not to react with hatred and revenge, but continued to work for equalityand nonviolent resolution of difficulties. She built the Martin Luther King Jr.Center for Nonviolent Social Change, which houses a civil rights museum andlibrary and offers training and seminars. Over the next thirty-eight years, shemet with world leaders, founded and supported organizations, and worked side-by-side with people seeking to spread love to those who had promoted hate. In

1969, she published a memoir, My Life with Martin Luther King Jr .Coretta remained active in social justice issues throughout her life. She ledthe fifteen-year campaign to establish Martin’s birthday as a national holiday.President Ronald Reagan championed and signed the bill in 1983 that estab-lished the third Monday of January, 1984, as the first official Martin LutherKing Jr. Day. In accomplishing her goal, Martin Luther King Jr.’s story andthe battle for civil rights and racial equality through nonviolence has beensolidified in American history. As late as 1985, she and three of her children

were arrested for protesting apartheid at the South African embassy; ten yearslater, she stood next to Nelson Mandela as he was sworn in as president. Sheis widely quoted as saying, “The greatness of a community is most accuratelymeasured by the compassionate actions of its members.”

Coretta Scott King died January 30, 2006. She was buried next to herhusband with the words of 1 Corinthians 13:13 on her crypt: “And now abidefaith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Coretta embod-ied the love of Christ with her life, and her love in the face of violence remainsnot only an example for us as Americans but as Christ-followers.

For more on Forgiveness, see the articles on pages 53, 60, 329, 1017 & 1387.

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do in word or deed, do all in the name ofthe Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God theFather through Him.

The Christian Home18

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

19Husbands, love your wives and donot be bitter toward them.

20Children, obey your parents in allthings, for this is well pleasing to theLord.

21Fathers, do not provoke your chil-dren, lest they become discouraged.

22Bondservants, obey in all thingsyour masters according to the flesh,not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers,

but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.23And whatever you do, do it heartily,as to the Lord and not to men, 24know-ing that from the Lord you will receivethe reward of the inheritance; for

a youserve the Lord Christ. 25But he who doeswrong will be repaid for what he has

done, and there is no partiality.4 Masters, give your bondservantswhat is just and fair, knowing that

you also have a Master in heaven.

Christian Graces2Continue earnestly in prayer, being

vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3mean-while praying also for us, that Godwould open to us a door for the word, to

speak the mystery of Christ, for whichI am also in chains, 4that I may make itmanifest, as I ought to speak.

5 Walk in wisdom toward those who

are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, sea-soned with salt, that you may know howyou ought to answer each one.

Final Greetings7 Tychicus, a beloved brother, faith-

ful minister, and fellow servant in theLord, will tell you all the news aboutme. 8I am sending him to you for thisvery purpose, that hea may know yourcircumstances and comfort your hearts,9with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved

brother, who is one of you. They willmake known to you all things which are

happening here.

to the image of Him who created him,11where there is neither Greek nor Jew,circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbar-ian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christis all and in all.

Character of the New Man12

Therefore, as the elect of God, holyand beloved, put on tender mercies,kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering; 13 bearing with one another,and forgiving one another, if anyone

has a complaint against another; evenas Christ forgave you, so you also mustdo. 14But above all these things put on

love, which is the bond of perfection.15And let the peace of God rule in your

hearts, to which also you were calledin one body; and be thankful. 16Let theword of Christ dwell in you richly in allwisdom, teaching and admonishing oneanother in psalms and hymns and spir-itual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17And whatever you

Rising to the OccasionColossians 3:23

W hen James Garfield was a Con-gressman, his family lived with

him in Washington, D.C. At times, his

wife, Lucretia, felt burdened by baking;it occurred to her that it might help ifshe changed her attitude and tried tomake the best bread in the world. Shemade a note of her newfound outlook inher diary:

It seemed like an inspiration,and the whole of my life grew

brighter. e very sunshine seemedflowing down through my spiritinto the white loaves, and I nowbelieve my table is furnished withbetter bread than ever before; thistruth, as old as creation, seems justnow to have become fully mine—that I need not be the shrinkingslave of toil, but its regal master,

making whatever I do yield its bestfruits.

For more on Diligence, see pages 744 & 1193.

DILIGENCE

3:24 a NU-Text omits for. 4:8 a NU-Textreads you may know our circumstances and hemay.

1359 COLOSSIANS 4:9



him), 11and Jesus who is called Justus.These are my only fellow workers forthe kingdom of God who are of thecircumcision; they have proved to be acomfort to me.

12

Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, al-ways laboring fervently for you inprayers, that you may stand perfect andcompletea in all the will of God. 13ForI bear him witness that he has a greatzeala for you, and those who are in La-odicea, and those in Hierapolis. 14Lukethe beloved physician and Demas greetyou. 15Greet the brethren who are in

Laodicea, and Nymphas and the churchthat is in hisa house.

Closing Exhortations andBlessing

16Now when this epistle is readamong you, see that it is read also in thechurch of the Laodiceans, and that you

likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.17

And say to Archippus, “Take heed tothe ministry which you have received inthe Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

18 This salutation by my own hand—

Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

10Aristarchus my fellow prisonergreets you, with Mark the cousin ofBarnabas (about whom you received in-structions: if he comes to you, welcome

Beyond the MessColossians 4:6

Benjamin West, a famous portraitpainter at the time of the American

Revolution, remembers one of his earli-est attempts to paint.

He had been left to care for his littlesister and used the time to paint her por-trait in colored inks. He was obliviousto the mess he made; when his mother,Sarah, returned she did not scold himfor the disorder. Rather, she picked up

his painting and exclaimed, “Why, it’sSally!” and gave him a kiss.

at simple act of encouragement gaveBenjamin an inheritance beyond worth; itgave him his future. He liked to say, “Mymother’s kiss made me a painter.”

For more on Encouragement, see pages 808 & 1365.

ENCOURAGEMENT

4:12 a NU-Text reads fully assured. 4:13 a NU-Text reads concern. 4:15 a NU-Text reads Nympha . . . her house.

1360COLOSSIANS 4:10



1 THESSALONIANSs

Author: Paul

Date: Around .. 51

Setting: ThessalonicaThessalonica was the capital of Macedonia and its largest city. It was located on the

main Roman highway to the east, called the Via Egnatia. Paul’s stay in Thessalonica

was cut short because of opposition from the Jewish congregation.

Theme: Holiness in Light of Christ’s ReturnPaul had been forced to leave the Thessalonians prematurely, and his concern forthem caused him to send Timothy to check on their progress in the faith. His great

relief upon hearing Timothy’s positive report prompted Paul to write this warm

epistle of commendation, exhortation, and consolation. Paul closes 1 Thessalonians

with instructions regarding the return of the Lord, whose advent signifies hope and

comfort for believers both living and dead.

InsightsPaul encouraged the young Thessalonian believers to persevere in living for God,

even in the midst of persecution. He taught them not only doctrine, but also appli-cation.

When difficult times come our way, we can draw deep on our faith and learn

even more about our Savior. American hymn writer Eliza E. Hewitt knew this first-

hand. She suffered a back ailment that could become nearly incapacitating. She

used this trial as an opportunity to strengthen her faith and spur her on to learn

even more about Christ. This desire is reflected in her song, “More About Jesus”:

More about Jesus would I know,

More of His grace to others show;

More of His saving fullness see,

More of His love who died for me.

1361



we seek glory from men, either from youor from others, when we might havemade demands as apostles of Christ.7But we were gentle among you, justas a nursing mother cherishes her own

children.8

So, affectionately longing foryou, we were well pleased to impart toyou not only the gospel of God, but alsoour own lives, because you had becomedear to us. 9For you remember, brethren,our labor and toil; for laboring night andday, that we might not be a burden toany of you, we preached to you the gos-pel of God.

Greeting

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessaloniansin God the Father and the Lord Jesus

Christ:Grace to you and peace from God our

Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.a

Their Good Example2

We give thanks to God always foryou all, making mention of you in ourprayers, 3remembering without ceasingyour work of faith, labor of love, and pa-

tience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ inthe sight of our God and Father, 4know-ing, beloved brethren, your election byGod. 5For our gospel did not come to youin word only, but also in power, and inthe Holy Spirit and in much assurance,as you know what kind of men we wereamong you for your sake.

6And you became followers of us andof the Lord, having received the word inmuch affliction, with joy of the HolySpirit, 7so that you became examples toall in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedo-nia and Achaia, but also in every place.Your faith toward God has gone out, sothat we do not need to say anything.9For they themselves declare concerning

us what manner of entry we had to you,and how you turned to God from idolsto serve the living and true God, 10andto wait for His Son from heaven, whomHe raised from the dead, even Jesus whodelivers us from the wrath to come.

Paul’s Conduct

2 For you yourselves know, brethren,that our coming to you was not in

vain. 2But evena after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated atPhilippi, as you know, we were bold inour God to speak to you the gospel ofGod in much conflict. 3For our exhorta-tion did not come from error or unclean-ness, nor was it in deceit.

4But as we have been approved byGod to be entrusted with the gospel,even so we speak, not as pleasing men,

but God who tests our hearts. 5For nei-ther at any time did we use flatteringwords, as you know, nor a cloak forcovetousness—God is witness. 6Nor did

10 You are witnesses, and God also,

how devoutly and justly and blameless- ly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11as you know how we exhort-ed, and comforted, and chargeda everyone of you, as a father does his own chil-dren, 12that you would walk worthy ofGod who calls you into His own king-dom and glory.

Their Conversion13For this reason we also thank God

without ceasing, because when youreceived the word of God which you

heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth,the word of God, which also effective-

ly works in you who believe. 14Foryou, brethren, became imitators of the

churches of God which are in Judea inChrist Jesus. For you also suffered thesame things from your own country-men, just as they did from the Judeans,15who killed both the Lord Jesus andtheir own prophets, and have persecutedus; and they do not please God and arecontrary to all men, 16forbidding us tospeak to the Gentiles that they may besaved, so as always to fill up the measure

Great necessities call out great

virtues.

Abigail Adams1744–1818

1:1 a NU-Text omits from God our Father andthe Lord Jesus Christ. 2:2 a NU-Text and M-Text omit even. 2:11 a NU-Text and M-Textread implored.

13621 THESSALONIANS 1:1



Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just aswe do to you, 13so that He may estab-

lish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the com-

ing of our Lord Jesus Christ with all Hissaints.

Plea for Purity

4 Finally then, brethren, we urge andexhort in the Lord Jesus that you

should abound more and more, just asyou received from us how you ought towalk and to please God; 2for you knowwhat commandments we gave you

through the Lord Jesus.3For this is the will of God, your

sanctification: that you should abstainfrom sexual immorality; 4that each ofyou should know how to possess hisown vessel in sanctification and honor,5not in passion of lust, like the Gentileswho do not know God; 6that no oneshould take advantage of and defraud

his brother in this matter, because theLord is the avenger of all such, as wealso forewarned you and testified. 7ForGod did not call us to uncleanness, butin holiness. 8

Therefore he who rejectsthis does not reject man, but God, who has also givena us His Holy Spirit.

A Brotherly and Orderly Life9But concerning brotherly love you

have no need that I should write to you,for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10and indeed you doso toward all the brethren who are in allMacedonia. But we urge you, brethren,that you increase more and more; 11thatyou also aspire to lead a quiet life, tomind your own business, and to workwith your own hands, as we command-ed you, 12that you may walk properly

toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

The Comfort of Christ’s Coming13But I do not want you to be igno-

rant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow asothers who have no hope. 14For if we

believe that Jesus died and rose again,

even so God will bring with Him thosewho sleep in Jesus.a

of their sins; but wrath has come uponthem to the uttermost.

Longing to See Them17But we, brethren, having been tak-

en away from you for a short time inpresence, not in heart, endeavored moreeagerly to see your face with great de-sire. 18 Therefore we wanted to come toyou—even I, Paul, time and again— butSatan hindered us. 19For what is our

hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isit not even you in the presence of ourLord Jesus Christ at His coming? 20Foryou are our glory and joy.

Concern for Their Faith

3 Therefore, when we could no lon-ger endure it, we thought it good to

be left in Athens alone, 2and sent Tim-othy, our brother and minister of God,and our fellow laborer in the gospel ofChrist, to establish you and encourageyou concerning your faith, 3that no one

should be shaken by these afflictions;for you yourselves know that we are ap-pointed to this. 4For, in fact, we told you

before when we were with you that wewould suffer tribulation, just as it hap-pened, and you know. 5For this reason,when I could no longer endure it, I sentto know your faith, lest by some meansthe tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.

Encouraged by Timothy6But now that Timothy has come to

us from you, and brought us good newsof your faith and love, and that you al-ways have good remembrance of us,greatly desiring to see us, as we also tosee you— 7therefore, brethren, in all ouraffliction and distress we were comfort-

ed concerning you by your faith.8

Fornow we live, if you stand fast in theLord.

9For what thanks can we render toGod for you, for all the joy with whichwe rejoice for your sake before our God,10night and day praying exceedingly thatwe may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?

Prayer for the Church11Now may our God and Father

Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ,direct our way to you. 12And may the

4:8 a NU-Text reads who also gives. 4:14 a Orthose who through Jesus sleep

1363 1 THESSALONIANS 4:14



The Day of the Lord

5 But concerning the times and theseasons, brethren, you have no

need that I should write to you. 2Foryou yourselves know perfectly that the

day of the Lord so comes as a thief in thenight. 3For when they say, “Peace andsafety!” then sudden destruction comesupon them, as labor pains upon a preg-nant woman. And they shall not escape.4But you, brethren, are not in darkness,so that this Day should overtake youas a thief. 5 You are all sons of light andsons of the day. We are not of the nightnor of darkness. 6

Therefore let us not

sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7For those who sleep, sleepat night, and those who get drunk aredrunk at night. 8But let us who are ofthe day be sober, putting on the breast-plate of faith and love, and as a helmetthe hope of salvation. 9For God did notappoint us to wrath, but to obtain sal-vation through our Lord Jesus Christ,10who died for us, that whether wewake or sleep, we should live togetherwith Him.

11 Therefore comfort each other and

edify one another, just as you also aredoing.

Various Exhortations12And we urge you, brethren, to rec-

ognize those who labor among you, and

are over you in the Lord and admonishyou, 13and to esteem them very highlyin love for their work’s sake. Be at peaceamong yourselves.

14Now we exhort you, brethren,warn those who are unruly, comfortthe fainthearted, uphold the weak, bepatient with all. 15See that no one ren-ders evil for evil to anyone, but alwayspursue what is good both for yourselves

and for all.16Rejoice always, 17pray without

ceasing, 18in everything give thanks; forthis is the will of God in Christ Jesus foryou.

19Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do notdespise prophecies. 21

Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22Abstain fromevery form of evil.

Blessing and Admonition23Now may the God of peace Himself

sanctify you completely; and may yourwhole spirit, soul, and body be preserved

15For this we say to you by the wordof the Lord, that we who are aliveand remain until the coming of theLord will by no means precede thosewho are asleep. 16For the Lord Him-

self will descend from heaven with ashout, with the voice of an archangel,and with the trumpet of God. And thedead in Christ will rise first. 17

Thenwe who are alive and remain shall becaught up together with them in theclouds to meet the Lord in the air. Andthus we shall always be with the Lord.18

Therefore comfort one another withthese words.

Let’s Roll1 Thessalonians 4:13

Lisa Beamer and her husband, Todd,had returned from a business trip

on September 10, 2001. Early the nextmorning, when Todd left to catch anoth-er flight to San Francisco, neither of themdreamed it would be his final journey.

As the news of the destruction ofthe World Trade Center unfolded onlive television, Lisa waited anxiously tohear from Todd. en the news flashedthat there had been another plane crash,

this time in a field in Pennsylvania. Lisaknew it was Todd’s flight.

Later, it was established through re-corded phone conversations that Toddand others on the flight had decided tomake an attempt to wreck the hijackedplane before it could reach its proposedtarget. Todd’s last recorded words were“Let’s roll.”

Left to raise three young childrenas a widow, Lisa’s actions mirrored herhusband’s faith and heroism. In themidst of her own grief, she continued tothink of others. She spoke publicly and

wrote of her faith in God and her as-surance that she would see her husbandagain. She commended his heroism and

brought hope that, even in the midst ofthe very worst things, God is still loving-ly in control.

For more on Hopefulness, see pages 868 & 1350.

HOPEFULNESS




A BIOGRAPHY

“Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” 1 T H E S S A L O N I A N S 5 : 1 1

“Love changes darkness into light and makes the heart take a wingless flight.”This quote from Helen Steiner Rice summarizes the sensitive soul of one ofour nation’s most recognized poets.

After a fairly unremarkable childhood, Helen Steiner was forced to putany hope of college aside when her father, a railroad worker, died of a suddenillness just prior to her high school graduation. At the age of eighteen, she wasforced to find a job and become the sole breadwinner for her mother and sister.

Helen hired into the Lorain Electric Light and Power Company. Both cre-

ative and ambitious, Helen’s talents resulted in a series of promotions. Whilestill in her twenties, she became their advertising manager. In the early 1920s,a woman in such a responsible position was rare indeed.

Helen’s talents gained the attention of the burgeoning electric industry. Stillin her twenties, she found herself traveling around the country as its ambas-sador. She became an accomplished speaker and often incorporated into herpresentations the importance of women’s opinions in shaping products andadvertising campaigns. Helen became well-known for her skills as a lecturer,

humorist, organizer, and promoter, all rare distinctions for an early-twentieth-century woman.From the beginning of her speaking career, she made a practice of asking

her heavenly Father for help, and she continued to do this throughout her life when speaking or writing. The depth of her faith and her incredible ability toinspire and encourage others came into greater focus when Helen struck outon her own as a motivational speaker.

Her speaking schedule took her to Dayton, Ohio, where she met a wealthy

banker named Franklin Rice. The two fell in love and were married in Januaryof 1929. Only nine months later, the stock market crashed and Franklin’s entirefortune was lost. Helen took a job with the Gibson Art Company, and began

working to pay off their debts. Tragically, Franklin committed suicide in 1932. After her husband’s death, Helen struggled out of debt and depression. Bit

by bit, she began to understand that her own suffering served to make her morecompassionate toward others. Even in her pain, she developed a reputation as agood and true friend. She was an encouragement and inspiration to all whose

lives she touched. Helen’s upbeat philosophy and refusal to complain bore witness to her deep-seated faith.

Helen Steiner Rice1900–1981

ENCOURAGEMENT




27I charge you by the Lord that thisepistle be read to all the holy

a brethren.28

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24He who calls you is faith-ful, who also will do it.

25Brethren, pray for us.26Greet all the brethren with a holy

kiss.

For more on Encouragement, see the articles on pages 607, 632, 691, 808, 1360, 1400 & 1406.

During her years with the Gibson Art Company, Helen wrote thousands ofpoems that reflected her sure faith in God. Many were the result of her desireto reach out to friends, relatives, and co- workers with hope and solace at criticalpoints in their lives. Her verses came to the attention of Gibson’s vice president.

This began Helen’s most recognized lifework—her greeting cards have becomea part of the very fabric of our nation. Eventually, Helen became the editor-in-chief of Gibson, a position she held for forty-two years.

Throughout her life, Helen recognized her ability to encourage and inspireothers as a God-given gift. She understood that the words she wrote were avehicle God used to highlight His love and compassion.

Before her death in 1981, Helen set up the Helen Steiner Rice Foundation.It was her wish that this foundation continue to be a channel of God’s love to

the world even after her death. Since its establishment in the final years of herlife, the foundation has awarded millions to charities and it remains a beaconof hope, just as Helen would have wanted.

All of Helen’s life philosophy can be summed up in a few of her own words:“I believe in miracles. I believe in prayer. I know God is the answer to every-thing.”

5:27 a NU-Text omits holy.




s

WOMEN OF THE

CIVIL RIGHTSMOVEMENT

Laying New Foundation Stones

A Dangerous DichotomyThe roots of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s reachfar back into American history. The language of the Declara-tion of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rightsdeclares freedom and equality to be basic human rights. Thehypocrisy of a nation founded on the principles of libertyand equality, yet continuing to maintain a system of slavery,is staggering. It does not seem possible that a nation could

continue to function long with this dichotomy. The evils ofslavery and white supremacy fermented for nearly a hundredyears before erupting into civil war.

When the Fourteenth Amendment cemented the Eman-cipation Proclamation by declaring, “All persons born or nat-uralized in the United States . . . are citizens of the UnitedStates,” it appeared that slavery was dead at last. The Fifteenth Amendment, which gave black men the right to vote, put an-

other nail into its coffin. Yet, sadly, with all these advances, thecountry was a long way from fully accepting its dark-skinnedpeople as equal citizens.



For one hundred years after the Civil War, African-Americans ex-perienced segregation, discrimination, humiliation, oppression, evenpersecution and death, all with no legal recourse. In the South, laws

actually forbade integration; but in other areas of the country discrim-ination ran rampant as well. A number of ex-slaves returned to Africa;but not many wanted to go. For all its evils, America was their home; what they wanted was to be accepted as citizens.

The First Steps of a JourneyIn spite of oppression and disadvantages, many African-Americans worked hard to make conditions better for their children. A few began

to gain respect and, in subtle ways, their accomplishments chippedaway at the color barriers.

One of the most famous of the early challengers to racism wasthe singer Marian Anderson, a world-famous artist. She was laudedby most of the world; in her own nation, she had the “wrong” colorskin. When the Daughters of the American Revolution refused to allowher to sing in Constitution Hall, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt publiclydropped her membership in the DAR and arranged an outdoor concert

that drew a crowd of seventy thousand, highlighting to many the idiocyof such racist rules.

Throughout the years, outstanding African-Americans sufferedunder unfair treatment. In some cases, like Marian Anderson’s, thepublic response served to highlight the deplorable realities of discrim-ination. However, none accomplished changing the laws that actuallymandated segregation and inequality.

A group of African-Americans committed to legal social changeformed the National Association for the Advancement of ColoredPeople; they began working to overturn unjust laws and regulations.Constance Baker Motley, a young African-American woman, was an

Civil Rights Act of 1964



NAACP lawyer who actively pursued schooldiscrimination cases in the 1940s and ’50s.She was involved in preparing the argu-

ments in the Texas suit that was brought before the Supreme Courtand led to the 1954 decision that any form of school segregation wasunconstitutional. This ruling did not end segregation, but it did declareit illegal and, therefore, prosecutable.

The Beginning of a DreamIn December of 1955, a year and a half after the Supreme Court deci-sion disallowing school segregation, an event in the deep South set the

Civil Rights movement on fire.Rosa Parks, of Montgomery, Alabama, refused to give up her

bus seat to a white passenger. She was arrested. Rosa was not the first African-American to defy the bus segregation laws; but in her, theNAACP recognized a perfect candidate for a successful lawsuit. In sup-port of Rosa’s stance, the black community in Montgomery organizeda boycott of the city bus system. Led by Martin Luther King Jr., thisnonviolent, organized protest became the prototype for similar actions

in other cities. A feeling of solidarity swept the African-American com-munity as marches, peaceful protests, and sit-ins began to spring upeverywhere. Once again, the Supreme Court ruled against segregation;the bus system was forced to integrate.

In the following years, Constance Motley and others worked onmany lawsuits that set new precedents. Constance persevered throughtwo and a half years in the Mississippi courts to force the University ofMississippi to accept its first black student; the feat was accomplishedin 1962. With each legal success, the hostility grew; in several casesmilitary and police protection had to be called in.

First Lady Eleanor

Roosevelt with Marian

Anderson, 1953PHOTO: THE U.S. NATIONAL ARCHIVES



As school integration began to be enforced, it was the children who had to pay the highest price. The law could force the schoolsto allow them entrance, but it could not enforce kindness or accep-

tance. When Maryland integrated its schools in 1962, a handful ofbright, outgoing African-American children were carefully chosento be the first to enter a previously all-white junior high school.They were successful students, but after two years of daily struggle,every single one went to a private high school.

Generations of abuse and bigotry could not be corrected in just a few short years, but the Civil Rights movement was well onits way. New legal precedents forced the slow movement of reform

to begin. The signs saying “white”and “colored” were taken down, andopportunities for education and ad-vancement began to open up.

Vision for the FutureThe work of eliminating racial dis-crimination in America is not com-

plete, but inroads accomplished thusfar have brought lasting changes.In 1929, First Lady Lou Hoover re-ceived hate mail for inviting the wifeof an African-American congress-man to tea in the White House. In2009, the first African-AmericanFirst Lady moved into the WhiteHouse.

In 1972, Barbara Jordan became thefirst black woman from a southern state to beelected to the House of Representatives. In a

1992 speech, she said: “We are one, we Americans, and we rejectany intruder who seeks to divide us by race or class. We honorcultural identity. However, separatism is not allowed. Separatismis not the American way.”

Rosa Parks with

Dr. Martin Luther

King Jr. (ca. 1955)

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