28 In relation to the gospel they are (A)enemies on your account, but in relation to God’s choice they are beloved (B)on account of the fathers;

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28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies(A) for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,(B)

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18 Now (A)all these things are from God, (B)who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the (C)ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that (D)God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, (E)not counting their wrongdoings against them, and [a]He has [b]committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Therefore, we are (F)ambassadors for Christ, (G)as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be (H)reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who (I)knew no sin to be [c](J)sin in our behalf, so that we might become the (K)righteousness of God in Him.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:19 Lit having
  2. 2 Corinthians 5:19 Lit placed in us
  3. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Or a sin offering

18 All this is from God,(A) who reconciled us to himself through Christ(B) and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.(C) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,(D) as though God were making his appeal through us.(E) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.(F) 21 God made him who had no sin(G) to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(H)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Or be a sin offering

Among them [a]we too all (A)previously lived in (B)the lusts of our flesh, [b]indulging the desires of the flesh and of the [c]mind, and were (C)by nature (D)children of wrath, (E)just as the rest.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 2:3 I.e., Jewish believers
  2. Ephesians 2:3 Lit doing
  3. Ephesians 2:3 Lit thoughts

All of us also lived among them at one time,(A) gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a](B) and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 2:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.

21 And although you were (A)previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now (B)reconciled you in His (C)body of flesh through death, in order to (D)present you before Him (E)holy and blameless and beyond reproach— 23 if indeed you continue in [a]the faith firmly (F)established and steadfast, and not shifting from the (G)hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed (H)in all creation under heaven, (I)and of which I, Paul, [b]was made a [c](J)minister.

24 (K)Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh (L)I am supplementing what is lacking [d]in Christ’s afflictions in behalf of (M)His body, which is the church. 25 (N)I [e]was made a minister of this church according to the (O)commission from God granted to me for your benefit, so that I might [f]fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, (P)the mystery which had been hidden from the past ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His [g]saints, 27 to whom (Q)God willed to make known what (R)the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is (S)Christ in you, the (T)hope of glory. 28 We proclaim Him, (U)admonishing every person and teaching every person [h]with all (V)wisdom, so that we may (W)present every person [i](X)complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose I also (Y)labor, (Z)striving (AA)according to His [j]power which [k]works mightily within me.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:23 Or in faith
  2. Colossians 1:23 Lit became
  3. Colossians 1:23 Or servant
  4. Colossians 1:24 Lit of
  5. Colossians 1:25 Lit became
  6. Colossians 1:25 Lit make full the word of God
  7. Colossians 1:26 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  8. Colossians 1:28 Lit in
  9. Colossians 1:28 Or perfect
  10. Colossians 1:29 Lit working
  11. Colossians 1:29 Lit in power

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies(A) in your minds(B) because of[a] your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled(C) you by Christ’s physical body(D) through death to present you(E) holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation(F) 23 if you continue(G) in your faith, established(H) and firm, and do not move from the hope(I) held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven,(J) and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.(K)

Paul’s Labor for the Church

24 Now I rejoice(L) in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions,(M) for the sake of his body, which is the church.(N) 25 I have become its servant(O) by the commission God gave me(P) to present to you the word of God(Q) in its fullness— 26 the mystery(R) that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known(S) among the Gentiles the glorious riches(T) of this mystery, which is Christ in you,(U) the hope of glory.

28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing(V) and teaching everyone with all wisdom,(W) so that we may present everyone fully mature(X) in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously(Y) contend(Z) with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.(AA)

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:21 Or minds, as shown by