Colossians 3:20

3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord.

Proverbs 16:7

16:7 When a person’s ¹  ways are pleasing to the Lord, ² 

he ³  even reconciles his enemies to himself. ⁴ 

Philippians 4:18

4:18 For I have received everything, and I have plenty. I have all I need because I received from Epaphroditus what you sent – a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God.

Philippians 4:1

Christian Practices

4:1 So then, my brothers and sisters, ⁵  dear friends whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand in the Lord in this way, my dear friends!

Philippians 4:1-2

Christian Practices

4:1 So then, my brothers and sisters, ⁶  dear friends whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand in the Lord in this way, my dear friends!

4:2 I appeal to Euodia and to Syntyche to agree in the Lord.

Philippians 2:4

2:4 Each of you should be concerned ⁷  not only ⁸  about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. ⁹ 

Hebrews 11:5

11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death, and he was not to be found because God took him up. For before his removal he had been commended as having pleased God.

Hebrews 13:16

13:16 And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, ¹⁰  for God is pleased with such sacrifices.

Hebrews 13:1

Final Exhortations

13:1 Brotherly love must continue.

Hebrews 3:1

Jesus and Moses

3:1 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, ¹¹  partners in a heavenly calling, take note of Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess, ¹² 

¹ tn Heb “ways of a man.”

² tn The first line uses an infinitive in a temporal clause, followed by its subject in the genitive case: “in the taking pleasure of the Lord” = “when the Lord is pleased with.” So the condition set down for the second colon is a lifestyle that is pleasing to God.

³ tn The referent of the verb in the second colon is unclear. The straightforward answer is that it refers to the person whose ways please the Lord – it is his lifestyle that disarms his enemies. W. McKane comments that the righteous have the power to mend relationships (Proverbs [OTL], 491); see, e.g., 10:13; 14:9; 15:1; 25:21-22). The life that is pleasing to God will be above reproach and find favor with others. Some would interpret this to mean that God makes his enemies to be at peace with him (cf. KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NLT). This is workable, but in this passage it would seem God would do this through the pleasing life of the believer (cf. NCV, TEV, CEV).

⁴ tn Heb “even his enemies he makes to be at peace with him.”

⁵ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:12.

⁶ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:12.

⁷ tn On the meaning “be concerned about” for σκοπέω (skopew), see L&N 27.36.

⁸ tn The word “only” is not in the Greek text, but is implied by the ἀλλὰ καί (alla kai) in the second clause (“but…as well”). The bulk of the Western text dropped the καί, motivated most likely by ascetic concerns.

⁹ tc The bulk of the Western text (D*^,c F G K it) dropped καί (kai) here, most likely due to ascetic concerns. Strong external attestation for its inclusion from excellent witnesses as well as the majority (Ì⁴⁶ א A B C D² 0278 33 1739 1881 Ï) also marks it as original.

¹⁰ tn Grk “neglect doing good and fellowship.”

¹¹ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 2:11.

¹² tn Grk “of our confession.”