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)

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)

³ 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.

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)