¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above,^(A) coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,^(B) who does not change^(C) like shifting shadows.

² Do not conform^(A) to the pattern of this world,^(B) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.^(C) Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is^(D)—his good, pleasing^(E) and perfect will.

¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate^[a](A) the Lord’s glory,^(B) are being transformed into his image^(C) with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

³ For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.^{(A) 4} The weapons we fight with^(B) are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power^(C) to demolish strongholds.^{(D) 5} We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,^(E) and we take captive every thought to make it obedient^(F) to Christ.

⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death,^(A) but the mind governed by the Spirit is life^(B) and peace.

⁴ It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth,^(A) just as the Father commanded us.

³ It gave me great joy when some believers^(A) came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.^{(B) 4} I have no greater joy than to hear that my children^(C) are walking in the truth.^(D)

²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit,^(A) let us keep in step with the Spirit.