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.

And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions.

Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

I sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts.

We pray earnestly night and day to see you in person and make up what may be lacking in your faith.

And besides that, going around from house to house they learn to be lazy, and they are not only lazy, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things they should not.

I charge you before God who gives life to all things and Christ Jesus who made his good confession before Pontius Pilate,

and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

The reason I left you in Crete was to set in order the remaining matters and to appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

and like a robe you will fold them up and like a garment they will be changed, but you are the same and your years will never run out.”

You made him lower than the angels for a little while. You crowned him with glory and honor.

Again he says, “I will be confident in him,” and again, “Here I am, with the children God has given me.”

For every high priest is taken from among the people and appointed to represent them before God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil.

and he entered once for all into the most holy place not by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood, and so he himself secured eternal redemption.

By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the one who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.

And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies.

Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination directs.

They probed into what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified beforehand about the sufferings appointed for Christ and his subsequent glory.