8  Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9  yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul — an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus — 10  that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11  Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. 12  I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13  I would have li

“ 1  Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother.To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, 2  to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in your house: 3  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4  When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God 5  because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith towards the Lord Jesus. 6  I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effectiv

Don't Lose Hope. When the Sun Goes Down, the Stars Come Out! “ 10  Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner greets you, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him. 11  And Jesus who is called Justus greets you. These are the only ones of the circumcision among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12  Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is alwa

“ 2  Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. 3  At the same time pray for us as well that God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison, 4  so that I may reveal it clearly, as I should. 5  Conduct yourselves wisely towards outsiders, making the most of the time. 6  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone. 7  Tychicus

“ 18  Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19  Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly. 20  Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is your acceptable duty in the Lord. 21  Fathers, do not provoke your children, or they may lose heart. 22  Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only while being watched and in order to please them, but wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. 23  Whatever your task, put yourselves int

12  As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13  Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14  Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And

5  Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6  On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. 7  These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. 8  But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. 9  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old se

20  If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations, 21  ‘Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch’? 22  All these regulations refer to things that perish with use; they are simply human commands and teachings. 23  These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-imposed piety, humility, and severe treatment of the body, but they are of no value in checking se

“ 13  And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, 14  erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. 15  He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it. 16  Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new

“ 8  See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. “ 9  For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily”, 10  and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority. 11  In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; 12 

“ 1 For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face. 2  I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ himself, 3  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4  I am saying this so that no one may deceive you with plausible arguments. 5  For though I