Study Desk

from our good friend Epaphras. He works together with us for Christ and is a faithful worker for you.

We have not stopped praying for you since the first day we heard about you. In fact, we always pray that God will show you everything he wants you to do and that you may have all the wisdom and understanding that his Spirit gives.

I pray that you will be grateful to God for letting you have part in what he has promised his people in the kingdom of light.

Everything was created by him, everything in heaven and on earth, everything seen and unseen, including all forces and powers, and all rulers and authorities. All things were created by God's Son, and everything was made for him.

And God was pleased for him to make peace by sacrificing his blood on the cross, so that all beings in heaven and on earth would be brought back to God.

I am glad that I can suffer for you. I am pleased also that in my own body I can continue the suffering of Christ for his body, the church.

For ages and ages this message was kept secret from everyone, but now it has been explained to God's people.

I want you to know what a struggle I am going through for you, for God's people at Laodicea, and for all of those followers who have never met me.

Plant your roots in Christ and let him be the foundation for your life. Be strong in your faith, just as you were taught. And be grateful.

God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross.

After these things are used, they are no longer good for anything. So why be bothered with the rules that humans have made up?

Don't be controlled by your body. Kill every desire for the wrong kind of sex. Don't be immoral or indecent or have evil thoughts. Don't be greedy, which is the same as worshiping idols.

Be sure to pray that God will make a way for us to spread his message and explain the mystery about Christ, even though I am in jail for doing this.

Jesus, who is known as Justus, sends his greetings. These three men are the only Jewish followers who have worked with me for the kingdom of God. They have given me much comfort.

I have seen how much trouble he has gone through for you and for the followers in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

We thank God for you and always mention you in our prayers. Each time we pray,

You became an example for all the Lord's followers in Macedonia and Achaia.

They also tell how you are waiting for his Son Jesus to come from heaven. God raised him from death, and on the day of judgment Jesus will save us from God's anger.

You also know that we didn't try to flatter anyone. God himself knows that what we did wasn't a cover-up for greed.

We cared so much for you, and you became so dear to us, that we were willing to give our lives for you when we gave you God's message.