Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are (A)mature; a wisdom, however, not of (B)this age nor of the rulers of (C)this age, who are (D)passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a (E)mystery, the hidden wisdom which God (F)predestined before the (G)ages to our glory;

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Yet we do speak wisdom among those spiritually mature [believers who have teachable hearts and a greater understanding]; but [it is a higher] wisdom not [the wisdom] of this present age nor of the rulers and leaders of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom once hidden [from man, but now revealed to us by God, that wisdom] which God predestined before the ages to our glory [to lift us into the glory of His presence].

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Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

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28 We proclaim Him, (A)admonishing every person and teaching every person [a]with all (B)wisdom, so that we may (C)present every person [b](D)complete in Christ.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:28 Lit in
  2. Colossians 1:28 Or perfect

28 We proclaim Him, warning and instructing everyone in all wisdom [that is, with comprehensive insight into the word and purposes of God], so that we may present every person complete in Christ [mature, fully trained, and perfect in Him—the Anointed].

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28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

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20 I have been (A)crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but (B)Christ lives in me; and [a]the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in (C)the Son of God, who (D)loved me and (E)gave Himself up for me.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 2:20 Or insofar as I

20 I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

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20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

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For this you know with certainty, that (A)no sexually immoral or [a]impure or greedy person, which [b]amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom (B)of Christ and God.

(C)See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things (D)the wrath of God comes upon (E)the [c]sons of disobedience.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:5 I.e., morally impure
  2. Ephesians 5:5 Lit is
  3. Ephesians 5:6 I.e., people opposed to God

For be sure of this: no immoral, impure, or greedy person—for that one is [in effect] an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God [for such a person places a higher value on something other than God].

Let no one deceive you with empty arguments [that encourage you to sin], for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience [those who habitually sin].(A)

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For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

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The Incomparable Christ

13 [a]For He rescued us from the [b](A)domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of [c](B)His beloved Son,

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:13 Lit Who rescued
  2. Colossians 1:13 Lit authority
  3. Colossians 1:13 Lit the Son of His love

The Incomparable Christ

13 For He has rescued us and has drawn us to Himself from the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

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13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

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11 And He (A)gave (B)some as apostles, some as prophets, some as (C)evangelists, some as [a]pastors and (D)teachers, 12 (E)for the equipping of the [b]saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of (F)the body of Christ;

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:11 From Gr for shepherds
  2. Ephesians 4:12 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people

11 And [His gifts to the church were varied and] He Himself appointed some as apostles [special messengers, representatives], some as prophets [who speak a new message from God to the people], some as evangelists [who spread the good news of salvation], and some as pastors and teachers [to shepherd and guide and instruct], 12 [and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church];

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11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

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13 until we all attain to (A)the unity of the faith, and of the [a](B)knowledge of the Son of God, to a (C)mature man, to the measure of the stature [b]which belongs to the (D)fullness of Christ.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:13 Or true knowledge
  2. Ephesians 4:13 Lit of the fullness

13 until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity].

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13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

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The Danger of Falling Away

Therefore (A)leaving (B)the [a]elementary teaching about the [b]Christ, let us press on to [c](C)maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from (D)dead works and of faith toward God,

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 6:1 Lit word of the beginning
  2. Hebrews 6:1 I.e., Messiah
  3. Hebrews 6:1 Or perfection

The Peril of Falling Away

Therefore let us get past the elementary stage in the teachings about the Christ, advancing on to maturity and perfection and spiritual completeness, [doing this] without laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

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Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

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Paul Reveals His Heart

Therefore, having these promises, (A)beloved, (B)let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

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Paul Reveals His Heart

Therefore, since we have these [great and wonderful] promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, completing holiness [living a consecrated life—a life set apart for God’s purpose] in the fear of God.

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Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

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