GreetApelles,the approvedin Christ.Greetthosewhoare of the [household] of Aristobulus.
For he who in this[way] servesChristis acceptableto Godand approvedby men.
GreetPriscaand Aquila,my fellow workersin ChristJesus,
GreetAndronicusand Junias,my kinsmenand my fellow prisoners,whoare outstandingamongthe apostles,whoalsowere in Christbeforeme.
But ifthe Spiritof Him who raisedJesusfrom the deaddwellsin you, He who raisedChristJesusfrom the deadwill alsogive lifeto your mortalbodiesthroughHis Spiritwho dwellsin you.
For there mustalsobe factionsamongyou, sothat thosewho are approvedmay becomeevidentamongyou.
I knowa manin Christwho fourteenyearsago--whetherin the bodyI do not know,orout of the bodyI do not know,Godknows--such a manwas caughtup to the thirdheaven.
For to thisend alsoI wrote,sothat I might putyou to the test,whetheryou are obedientin all things.
Thereforeifanyoneis in Christ,[he is] a newcreature;the old thingspassed away;behold,new thingshave come.
We have sentwith them our brother,whomwe have oftentestedand founddiligentin manythings,but noweven morediligentbecause of [his] greatconfidencein you.
I was [still] unknownby sightto the churchesof Judeawhich were in Christ;
"You shall rememberallthe waywhichthe LORDyour Godhas ledyou in the wildernessthesefortyyears,that He might humbleyou, testingyou, to knowwhatwas in your heart,whether you would keepHis commandmentsornot.
But you knowof his proven worth,that he servedwith me in the furtherance of the gospellikea child[serving] his father.
Thesemen must alsofirstbe tested;thenlet them serve as deaconsif they are beyond reproach.
GreetPriscaand Aquila,and the householdof Onesiphorus.
sothat the proofof your faith,[being] more preciousthan goldwhich is perishable,even thoughtestedby fire,may be foundto resultin praiseand gloryand honorat the revelationof JesusChrist;
