Ephesians 6:5 Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. Don’t just do what you have to do to get by, but ...

6:5 MSG

逐節對照

The Message - Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. Don’t just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ’s servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you’re really serving God. Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free.
新标点和合本 - 你们作仆人的，要惧怕战兢，用诚实的心听从你们肉身的主人，好像听从基督一般。
和合本2010（上帝版-简体） - 作仆人的，你们要惧怕战兢，用诚实的心听从你们肉身的主人，好像听从基督一般；
和合本2010（神版-简体） - 作仆人的，你们要惧怕战兢，用诚实的心听从你们肉身的主人，好像听从基督一般；
当代译本 - 你们做奴仆的，要战战兢兢、诚诚实实、怀着敬畏的心服从你们世上的主人，就像服从基督一样。
圣经新译本 - 你们作仆人的，要存着敬畏、战兢和真诚的心，听从世上的主人，好像听从基督一样。
中文标准译本 - 你们做奴仆的，要怀着敬畏和战兢，以忠实的心顺从自己在世上的主人，就像听从基督一样。
现代标点和合本 - 你们做仆人的，要惧怕战兢，用诚实的心听从你们肉身的主人，好像听从基督一般。
和合本（拼音版） - 你们作仆人的，要惧怕战兢，用诚实的心听从你们肉身的主人，好像听从基督一般。
New International Version - Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
New International Reader's Version - Slaves, obey your masters here on earth. Respect them and honor them with a heart that is true. Obey them just as you would obey Christ.
English Standard Version - Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,
New Living Translation - Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ.
Christian Standard Bible - Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as you would Christ.
New American Standard Bible - Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ;
New King James Version - Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;
Amplified Bible - Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with respect for authority, and with a sincere heart [seeking to please them], as [service] to Christ—
American Standard Version - Servants, be obedient unto them that according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
King James Version - Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
New English Translation - Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart as to Christ,
World English Bible - Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ,
新標點和合本 - 你們作僕人的，要懼怕戰兢，用誠實的心聽從你們肉身的主人，好像聽從基督一般。
和合本2010（上帝版-繁體） - 作僕人的，你們要懼怕戰兢，用誠實的心聽從你們肉身的主人，好像聽從基督一般；
和合本2010（神版-繁體） - 作僕人的，你們要懼怕戰兢，用誠實的心聽從你們肉身的主人，好像聽從基督一般；
當代譯本 - 你們作奴僕的，要戰戰兢兢、誠誠實實、懷著敬畏的心服從你們世上的主人，就像服從基督一樣。
聖經新譯本 - 你們作僕人的，要存著敬畏、戰兢和真誠的心，聽從世上的主人，好像聽從基督一樣。
呂振中譯本 - 做僕人的、你們要敬畏戰兢地、以心中的純誠、聽從按肉身做主人的，如同聽從基督一樣。
中文標準譯本 - 你們做奴僕的，要懷著敬畏和戰兢，以忠實的心順從自己在世上的主人，就像聽從基督一樣。
現代標點和合本 - 你們做僕人的，要懼怕戰兢，用誠實的心聽從你們肉身的主人，好像聽從基督一般。
文理和合譯本 - 僕當畏懼戰慄、以忠心順爾形軀之主、如於基督然、
文理委辦譯本 - 僕從基督之命、則當畏懼戰慄誠心、以服所事之主、
施約瑟淺文理新舊約聖經 - 爾為奴者、當畏懼戰慄、以誠心順服轄爾身之主人、如順服基督然、
吳經熊文理聖詠與新經全集 - 為奴僕者、當服從斯世之主人、一如服從基督、
Nueva Versión Internacional - Esclavos, obedezcan a sus amos terrenales con respeto y temor, y con integridad de corazón, como a Cristo.
현대인의 성경 - 종들은 그리스도를 대하듯 두렵고 성실한 마음으로 주인에게 순종하십시오.
Новый Русский Перевод - Рабы, подчиняйтесь вашим земным хозяевам с почтением и страхом, от чистого сердца, как вы подчинялись бы и Христу.
Восточный перевод - Рабы, подчиняйтесь вашим земным хозяевам с почтением и страхом, от чистого сердца, как вы подчинялись бы и Масиху.
Восточный перевод, версия с «Аллахом» - Рабы, подчиняйтесь вашим земным хозяевам с почтением и страхом, от чистого сердца, как вы подчинялись бы и аль-Масиху.
Восточный перевод, версия для Таджикистана - Рабы, подчиняйтесь вашим земным хозяевам с почтением и страхом, от чистого сердца, как вы подчинялись бы и Масеху.
La Bible du Semeur 2015 - Vous, esclaves , obéissez à votre maître terrestre avec toute la crainte qui s’impose, avec droiture de cœur, et cela par égard pour Christ.
リビングバイブル - 奴隷は主人に従い、最善を尽くしなさい。キリストに仕えるのと同じようにしなさい。
Nestle Aland 28 - Οἱ δοῦλοι, ὑπακούετε τοῖς κατὰ σάρκα κυρίοις μετὰ φόβου καὶ τρόμου ἐν ἁπλότητι τῆς καρδίας ὑμῶν ὡς τῷ Χριστῷ,
unfoldingWord® Greek New Testament - οἱ δοῦλοι, ὑπακούετε τοῖς κατὰ σάρκα κυρίοις μετὰ φόβου καὶ τρόμου, ἐν ἁπλότητι τῆς καρδίας ὑμῶν ὡς τῷ Χριστῷ;
Nova Versão Internacional - Escravos, obedeçam a seus senhores terrenos com respeito e temor, com sinceridade de coração, como a Cristo.
Hoffnung für alle - Ihr Sklaven, gehorcht euren irdischen Herren, ehrt und achtet sie! Dient ihnen so aufrichtig, als würdet ihr Christus selbst dienen.
Kinh Thánh Hiện Đại - Đầy tớ phải vâng lời chủ, thành thật kính sợ vâng phục chủ như vâng phục Chúa Cứu Thế.
พระคริสตธรรมคัมภีร์ไทย ฉบับอมตธรรมร่วมสมัย - ผู้ที่เป็นทาสจงเชื่อฟังเจ้านายฝ่ายโลกด้วยความเคารพยำเกรงและด้วยความจริงใจ เหมือนที่ท่านเชื่อฟังพระคริสต์
พระคัมภีร์ ฉบับแปลใหม่ - ผู้เป็นทาส จงเชื่อฟังบรรดาเจ้านายด้วยความยำเกรง และความเคารพ และด้วยใจจริงเหมือนกับที่ตนเชื่อฟังพระคริสต์

交叉引用

Genesis 16:9 - The angel of God said, “Go back to your mistress. Put up with her abuse.” He continued, “I’m going to give you a big family, children past counting. From this pregnancy, you’ll get a son: Name him Ishmael; for God heard you, God answered you. He’ll be a bucking bronco of a man, a real fighter, fighting and being fought, Always stirring up trouble, always at odds with his family.”
Acts 10:7 - As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two servants and one particularly devout soldier from the guard. He went over with them in great detail everything that had just happened, and then sent them off to Joppa.
Acts 2:46 - They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.
2 Corinthians 1:12 - Now that the worst is over, we’re pleased we can report that we’ve come out of this with conscience and faith intact, and can face the world—and even more importantly, face you with our heads held high. But it wasn’t by any fancy footwork on our part. It was God who kept us focused on him, uncompromised. Don’t try to read between the lines or look for hidden meanings in this letter. We’re writing plain, unembellished truth, hoping that you’ll now see the whole picture as well as you’ve seen some of the details. We want you to be as proud of us as we are of you when we stand together before our Master Jesus.
Matthew 6:24 - “You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both.
1 Corinthians 2:3 - I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate—I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it—and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God’s Spirit and God’s power did it, which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God’s power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.
Matthew 6:22 - “Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a musty cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!
Joshua 24:14 - “So now: Fear God. Worship him in total commitment. Get rid of the gods your ancestors worshiped on the far side of The River (the Euphrates) and in Egypt. You, worship God.
Philippians 2:12 - What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.
Ephesians 1:1 - I, Paul, am under God’s plan as an apostle, a special agent of Christ Jesus, writing to you faithful believers in Ephesus. I greet you with the grace and peace poured into our lives by God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:3 - How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
Ephesians 1:7 - Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.
Ephesians 1:11 - It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
Ephesians 1:13 - It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This down payment from God is the first installment on what’s coming, a reminder that we’ll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.
Ephesians 1:15 - That’s why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn’t stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I’d think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!
Ephesians 1:20 - All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.
Psalms 86:11 - Train me, God, to walk straight; then I’ll follow your true path. Put me together, one heart and mind; then, undivided, I’ll worship in joyful fear. From the bottom of my heart I thank you, dear Lord; I’ve never kept secret what you’re up to. You’ve always been great toward me—what love! You snatched me from the brink of disaster! God, these bullies have reared their heads! A gang of thugs is after me— and they don’t care a thing about you. But you, O God, are both tender and kind, not easily angered, immense in love, and you never, never quit. So look me in the eye and show kindness, give your servant the strength to go on, save your dear, dear child! Make a show of how much you love me so the bullies who hate me will stand there slack-jawed, As you, God, gently and powerfully put me back on my feet.
1 Timothy 6:1 - Whoever is a slave must make the best of it, giving respect to his master so that outsiders don’t blame God and our teaching for his behavior. Slaves with Christian masters all the more so—their masters are really their beloved brothers!
1 Timothy 6:2 - These are the things I want you to teach and preach. If you have leaders there who teach otherwise, who refuse the solid words of our Master Jesus and this godly instruction, tag them for what they are: ignorant windbags who infect the air with germs of envy, controversy, bad-mouthing, suspicious rumors. Eventually there’s an epidemic of backstabbing, and truth is but a distant memory. They think religion is a way to make a fast buck.
Ephesians 5:22 - Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.
Malachi 1:6 - “Isn’t it true that a son honors his father and a worker his master? So if I’m your Father, where’s the honor? If I’m your Master, where’s the respect?” God-of-the-Angel-Armies is calling you on the carpet: “You priests despise me! “You say, ‘Not so! How do we despise you?’ “By your shoddy, sloppy, defiling worship. “You ask, ‘What do you mean, “defiling”? What’s defiling about it?’
Colossians 3:18 - Wives, understand and support your husbands by submitting to them in ways that honor the Master.
Colossians 3:19 - Husbands, go all out in love for your wives. Don’t take advantage of them.
Colossians 3:20 - Children, do what your parents tell you. This delights the Master no end.
Colossians 3:21 - Parents, don’t come down too hard on your children or you’ll crush their spirits.
Colossians 3:22 - Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.
Titus 2:9 - Guide slaves into being loyal workers, a bonus to their masters—no back talk, no petty thievery. Then their good character will shine through their actions, adding luster to the teaching of our Savior God.
1 Peter 2:18 - You who are servants, be good servants to your masters—not just to good masters, but also to bad ones. What counts is that you put up with it for God’s sake when you’re treated badly for no good reason. There’s no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve. But if you’re treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God.
1 Peter 2:21 - This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step. He never did one thing wrong, Not once said anything amiss. They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you’re named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.

逐節對照

交叉引用

The Message - Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. Don’t just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ’s servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you’re really serving God. Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free.
新标点和合本 - 你们作仆人的，要惧怕战兢，用诚实的心听从你们肉身的主人，好像听从基督一般。
和合本2010（上帝版-简体） - 作仆人的，你们要惧怕战兢，用诚实的心听从你们肉身的主人，好像听从基督一般；
和合本2010（神版-简体） - 作仆人的，你们要惧怕战兢，用诚实的心听从你们肉身的主人，好像听从基督一般；
当代译本 - 你们做奴仆的，要战战兢兢、诚诚实实、怀着敬畏的心服从你们世上的主人，就像服从基督一样。
圣经新译本 - 你们作仆人的，要存着敬畏、战兢和真诚的心，听从世上的主人，好像听从基督一样。
中文标准译本 - 你们做奴仆的，要怀着敬畏和战兢，以忠实的心顺从自己在世上的主人，就像听从基督一样。
现代标点和合本 - 你们做仆人的，要惧怕战兢，用诚实的心听从你们肉身的主人，好像听从基督一般。
和合本（拼音版） - 你们作仆人的，要惧怕战兢，用诚实的心听从你们肉身的主人，好像听从基督一般。
New International Version - Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
New International Reader's Version - Slaves, obey your masters here on earth. Respect them and honor them with a heart that is true. Obey them just as you would obey Christ.
English Standard Version - Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,
New Living Translation - Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ.
Christian Standard Bible - Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as you would Christ.
New American Standard Bible - Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ;
New King James Version - Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;
Amplified Bible - Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with respect for authority, and with a sincere heart [seeking to please them], as [service] to Christ—
American Standard Version - Servants, be obedient unto them that according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
King James Version - Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
New English Translation - Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart as to Christ,
World English Bible - Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ,
新標點和合本 - 你們作僕人的，要懼怕戰兢，用誠實的心聽從你們肉身的主人，好像聽從基督一般。
和合本2010（上帝版-繁體） - 作僕人的，你們要懼怕戰兢，用誠實的心聽從你們肉身的主人，好像聽從基督一般；
和合本2010（神版-繁體） - 作僕人的，你們要懼怕戰兢，用誠實的心聽從你們肉身的主人，好像聽從基督一般；
當代譯本 - 你們作奴僕的，要戰戰兢兢、誠誠實實、懷著敬畏的心服從你們世上的主人，就像服從基督一樣。
聖經新譯本 - 你們作僕人的，要存著敬畏、戰兢和真誠的心，聽從世上的主人，好像聽從基督一樣。
呂振中譯本 - 做僕人的、你們要敬畏戰兢地、以心中的純誠、聽從按肉身做主人的，如同聽從基督一樣。
中文標準譯本 - 你們做奴僕的，要懷著敬畏和戰兢，以忠實的心順從自己在世上的主人，就像聽從基督一樣。
現代標點和合本 - 你們做僕人的，要懼怕戰兢，用誠實的心聽從你們肉身的主人，好像聽從基督一般。
文理和合譯本 - 僕當畏懼戰慄、以忠心順爾形軀之主、如於基督然、
文理委辦譯本 - 僕從基督之命、則當畏懼戰慄誠心、以服所事之主、
施約瑟淺文理新舊約聖經 - 爾為奴者、當畏懼戰慄、以誠心順服轄爾身之主人、如順服基督然、
吳經熊文理聖詠與新經全集 - 為奴僕者、當服從斯世之主人、一如服從基督、
Nueva Versión Internacional - Esclavos, obedezcan a sus amos terrenales con respeto y temor, y con integridad de corazón, como a Cristo.
현대인의 성경 - 종들은 그리스도를 대하듯 두렵고 성실한 마음으로 주인에게 순종하십시오.
Новый Русский Перевод - Рабы, подчиняйтесь вашим земным хозяевам с почтением и страхом, от чистого сердца, как вы подчинялись бы и Христу.
Восточный перевод - Рабы, подчиняйтесь вашим земным хозяевам с почтением и страхом, от чистого сердца, как вы подчинялись бы и Масиху.
Восточный перевод, версия с «Аллахом» - Рабы, подчиняйтесь вашим земным хозяевам с почтением и страхом, от чистого сердца, как вы подчинялись бы и аль-Масиху.
Восточный перевод, версия для Таджикистана - Рабы, подчиняйтесь вашим земным хозяевам с почтением и страхом, от чистого сердца, как вы подчинялись бы и Масеху.
La Bible du Semeur 2015 - Vous, esclaves , obéissez à votre maître terrestre avec toute la crainte qui s’impose, avec droiture de cœur, et cela par égard pour Christ.
リビングバイブル - 奴隷は主人に従い、最善を尽くしなさい。キリストに仕えるのと同じようにしなさい。
Nestle Aland 28 - Οἱ δοῦλοι, ὑπακούετε τοῖς κατὰ σάρκα κυρίοις μετὰ φόβου καὶ τρόμου ἐν ἁπλότητι τῆς καρδίας ὑμῶν ὡς τῷ Χριστῷ,
unfoldingWord® Greek New Testament - οἱ δοῦλοι, ὑπακούετε τοῖς κατὰ σάρκα κυρίοις μετὰ φόβου καὶ τρόμου, ἐν ἁπλότητι τῆς καρδίας ὑμῶν ὡς τῷ Χριστῷ;
Nova Versão Internacional - Escravos, obedeçam a seus senhores terrenos com respeito e temor, com sinceridade de coração, como a Cristo.
Hoffnung für alle - Ihr Sklaven, gehorcht euren irdischen Herren, ehrt und achtet sie! Dient ihnen so aufrichtig, als würdet ihr Christus selbst dienen.
Kinh Thánh Hiện Đại - Đầy tớ phải vâng lời chủ, thành thật kính sợ vâng phục chủ như vâng phục Chúa Cứu Thế.
พระคริสตธรรมคัมภีร์ไทย ฉบับอมตธรรมร่วมสมัย - ผู้ที่เป็นทาสจงเชื่อฟังเจ้านายฝ่ายโลกด้วยความเคารพยำเกรงและด้วยความจริงใจ เหมือนที่ท่านเชื่อฟังพระคริสต์
พระคัมภีร์ ฉบับแปลใหม่ - ผู้เป็นทาส จงเชื่อฟังบรรดาเจ้านายด้วยความยำเกรง และความเคารพ และด้วยใจจริงเหมือนกับที่ตนเชื่อฟังพระคริสต์

Genesis 16:9 - The angel of God said, “Go back to your mistress. Put up with her abuse.” He continued, “I’m going to give you a big family, children past counting. From this pregnancy, you’ll get a son: Name him Ishmael; for God heard you, God answered you. He’ll be a bucking bronco of a man, a real fighter, fighting and being fought, Always stirring up trouble, always at odds with his family.”
Acts 10:7 - As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two servants and one particularly devout soldier from the guard. He went over with them in great detail everything that had just happened, and then sent them off to Joppa.
Acts 2:46 - They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.
2 Corinthians 1:12 - Now that the worst is over, we’re pleased we can report that we’ve come out of this with conscience and faith intact, and can face the world—and even more importantly, face you with our heads held high. But it wasn’t by any fancy footwork on our part. It was God who kept us focused on him, uncompromised. Don’t try to read between the lines or look for hidden meanings in this letter. We’re writing plain, unembellished truth, hoping that you’ll now see the whole picture as well as you’ve seen some of the details. We want you to be as proud of us as we are of you when we stand together before our Master Jesus.
Matthew 6:24 - “You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both.
1 Corinthians 2:3 - I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate—I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it—and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God’s Spirit and God’s power did it, which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God’s power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.
Matthew 6:22 - “Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a musty cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!
Joshua 24:14 - “So now: Fear God. Worship him in total commitment. Get rid of the gods your ancestors worshiped on the far side of The River (the Euphrates) and in Egypt. You, worship God.
Philippians 2:12 - What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.
Ephesians 1:1 - I, Paul, am under God’s plan as an apostle, a special agent of Christ Jesus, writing to you faithful believers in Ephesus. I greet you with the grace and peace poured into our lives by God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:3 - How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
Ephesians 1:7 - Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.
Ephesians 1:11 - It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
Ephesians 1:13 - It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This down payment from God is the first installment on what’s coming, a reminder that we’ll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.
Ephesians 1:15 - That’s why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn’t stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I’d think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!
Ephesians 1:20 - All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.
Psalms 86:11 - Train me, God, to walk straight; then I’ll follow your true path. Put me together, one heart and mind; then, undivided, I’ll worship in joyful fear. From the bottom of my heart I thank you, dear Lord; I’ve never kept secret what you’re up to. You’ve always been great toward me—what love! You snatched me from the brink of disaster! God, these bullies have reared their heads! A gang of thugs is after me— and they don’t care a thing about you. But you, O God, are both tender and kind, not easily angered, immense in love, and you never, never quit. So look me in the eye and show kindness, give your servant the strength to go on, save your dear, dear child! Make a show of how much you love me so the bullies who hate me will stand there slack-jawed, As you, God, gently and powerfully put me back on my feet.
1 Timothy 6:1 - Whoever is a slave must make the best of it, giving respect to his master so that outsiders don’t blame God and our teaching for his behavior. Slaves with Christian masters all the more so—their masters are really their beloved brothers!
1 Timothy 6:2 - These are the things I want you to teach and preach. If you have leaders there who teach otherwise, who refuse the solid words of our Master Jesus and this godly instruction, tag them for what they are: ignorant windbags who infect the air with germs of envy, controversy, bad-mouthing, suspicious rumors. Eventually there’s an epidemic of backstabbing, and truth is but a distant memory. They think religion is a way to make a fast buck.
Ephesians 5:22 - Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.
Malachi 1:6 - “Isn’t it true that a son honors his father and a worker his master? So if I’m your Father, where’s the honor? If I’m your Master, where’s the respect?” God-of-the-Angel-Armies is calling you on the carpet: “You priests despise me! “You say, ‘Not so! How do we despise you?’ “By your shoddy, sloppy, defiling worship. “You ask, ‘What do you mean, “defiling”? What’s defiling about it?’
Colossians 3:18 - Wives, understand and support your husbands by submitting to them in ways that honor the Master.
Colossians 3:19 - Husbands, go all out in love for your wives. Don’t take advantage of them.
Colossians 3:20 - Children, do what your parents tell you. This delights the Master no end.
Colossians 3:21 - Parents, don’t come down too hard on your children or you’ll crush their spirits.
Colossians 3:22 - Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.
Titus 2:9 - Guide slaves into being loyal workers, a bonus to their masters—no back talk, no petty thievery. Then their good character will shine through their actions, adding luster to the teaching of our Savior God.
1 Peter 2:18 - You who are servants, be good servants to your masters—not just to good masters, but also to bad ones. What counts is that you put up with it for God’s sake when you’re treated badly for no good reason. There’s no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve. But if you’re treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God.
1 Peter 2:21 - This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step. He never did one thing wrong, Not once said anything amiss. They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you’re named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.