Paul

1Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

This letter is from Paul. He is an apostle, someone Jesus sent out to carry his message. No person gave him that job. Jesus Christ gave it to him, and so did God the Father. God the Father raised Jesus back to life.

2And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:

All the believers who are here with me send this letter too. We are writing to the churches in Galatia.

3Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

May God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ be kind to you. May they give you peace.

4Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

Jesus gave himself up to die for the wrong things we did. He did this to rescue us from this evil time we live in. That is what God our Father wanted.

5To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

May God be honored forever and ever. Amen. That word means "yes, this is true."

6I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

I am surprised at you. God called you because Christ is kind. But you are leaving him so soon. You are following a different message about Jesus.

7Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

That message is not good news at all. Some people are mixing you up. They want to twist the true message about Christ.

8But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

We already told you the true good news. Suppose someone brings you a different message. It could even be us, or an angel from heaven. That person should be under God's curse.

9As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

I said this before, and I say it again now. Anyone who brings you a message different from the one you received should be under God's curse.

10For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Am I trying to win people's approval, or God's? Am I working to make people like me? If I were still doing that, I would not be Christ's servant.

11But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

My friends, I want you to be sure of this. The good news I preached is not something a person made up.

12For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

No person handed it to me. No person taught it to me. Jesus Christ himself showed it to me.

13For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

You have heard how I lived before, back when I followed the Jewish religion. I hurt God's church again and again. I tried hard to wreck it.

14And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

In that religion I got ahead of many people my own age. I cared more than they did about the old customs my ancestors passed down.

15But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,

But God had set me apart even before I was born. He called me because he is kind. When it pleased him, he acted.

16To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

He showed me who his Son is, so that I could tell others about him. I was sent to people who are not Jewish. I did not run to any person for advice.

17Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

I did not go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me. Instead I went to Arabia. Later I came back to Damascus.

18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

Three years later I went up to Jerusalem to talk with Peter. I stayed with him for fifteen days.

19But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.

I did not see any of the other apostles. The only other one I saw was James, the Lord's brother.

20Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.

God knows that what I am writing to you is true. I am not lying.

21Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;

After that I went to the areas called Syria and Cilicia.

22And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:

The churches in Judea that belong to Christ had never met me. They did not know my face.

23But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

They only heard people say, "The man who used to hurt us now tells people the faith. He once tried to wipe it out."

24And they glorified God in me.

And they praised God because of me.

1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

This letter is from Paul. He is an apostle of Christ Jesus, a messenger Jesus sent out. God our Savior told him to do this. Christ Jesus is our hope.

2Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

It is for Timothy, my true child in the faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.

3As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

When I left for Macedonia, I asked you to stay in Ephesus. I wanted you to tell certain men there to stop teaching wrong things.

4Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

Tell them to stop caring about made-up stories and long family lists. Those things only start arguments. They do not help God's work, which comes through faith.

5Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

The goal of what we teach is love. That love comes from a clean heart. It comes from knowing you have done right. It comes from honest faith.

6From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

Some people have wandered away from this. Now they only talk about things that mean nothing.

7Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

They want to be teachers of God's law. But they do not understand their own words. They do not understand the things they say so surely.

8But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

We know the law is good, if a person uses it the right way.

9Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

The law is not made for people who already do right. It is for people who break rules and will not obey. It is for people who ignore God and do wrong. It is for people who are not holy. It is for people who kill their father or mother, and for people who kill others.

10For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

It is for people who do wrong sexual things. It is for men who have sex with men. It is for people who steal others and sell them as slaves. It is for liars, and for people who promise to tell the truth and then lie. It is for anyone who lives against right teaching.

11According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

That right teaching comes from the good news about our great and happy God. God trusted me with that good news.

12And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord. He made me strong. He decided I could be trusted, and he gave me work to do for him.

13Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

Before that, I said bad things against God. I hurt his people and treated them cruelly. But God showed me mercy. I did not know what I was doing, and I did not believe.

14And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Our Lord was very kind to me. With that kindness came faith and love, which come from Christ Jesus.

15This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Here is a saying you can trust, and everyone should accept it. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I am the worst one of all.

16Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

That is why God showed me mercy. Jesus Christ used me, the worst one, to show how patient he can be. Now I am an example for people who will believe in him and live forever.

17Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The King who lives forever never dies, and no one can see him. He is the only God. May he have honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

18This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

Timothy, my child, I am giving you this job. It matches what God's prophets said about you before. Let their words help you fight the good fight.

19Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

Keep on believing. Keep doing what you know is right. Some people threw that away. Their faith broke apart, like a ship smashed on rocks.

20Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Two of these men are Hymenaeus and Alexander. I handed them over to Satan. I want them to learn not to say bad things against God.

1Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

This letter is from Paul. I am in prison because I serve Jesus Christ. Timothy, our brother, is here with me. I am writing to Philemon, our dear friend who works with us.

2And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

I am also writing to our dear Apphia, and to Archippus, who serves God beside us. And I am writing to the believers who meet in your house.

3Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be kind to you and give you peace.

4I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

I thank my God for you. I speak your name every time I pray.

5Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

I hear that you trust the Lord Jesus. I hear that you love all of God's people.

6That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

I pray that sharing your faith will do real good. May you see every good thing we have because we belong to Christ Jesus.

7For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

Your love makes me very glad and gives me comfort. Brother, you have cheered up God's people and made them feel rested.

8Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

Because I belong to Christ, I could be bold and simply tell you what is right to do.

9Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

But because I love you, I would rather ask you kindly. I am Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Jesus Christ.

10I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

I am asking you about Onesimus. He is like a son to me. He came to trust Jesus while I was in chains.

11Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

In the past he was no use to you. But now he is useful to you and to me.

12Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

I am sending him back to you. Please welcome him. He is very dear to my heart.

13Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

I would have liked to keep him here with me. He could have helped me in your place while I am in chains for the good news.

14But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

But I did not want to do anything unless you agreed. Then your kind act would be your own choice, not something you had to do.

15For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

Maybe this is why he was away from you for a while. Now you can have him back for good.

16Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

He is not just a slave now. He is more than a slave. He is a dear brother. He is dear to me, and even more dear to you, both as a person and as a fellow believer.

17If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

You and I work together as partners. So welcome him just as you would welcome me.

18If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

Has he done anything wrong to you? Does he owe you anything? Charge it to me.

19I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back. I will not even mention that you owe me your own life.

20Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

Yes, brother, do this kind thing for me, since we both belong to the Lord. Cheer up my heart in Christ.

21Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

I am sure you will do what I ask, so I am writing to you. I know you will do even more than I say.

22But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

One more thing. Please get a guest room ready for me. I hope God will answer your prayers and bring me back to you.

23There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

Epaphras says hello to you. He is in prison with me because we belong to Christ Jesus.

24Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke say hello too. They work together with me.

25The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

May the Lord Jesus Christ be kind to you all. Amen.

14Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

So, dear friends, you are waiting for these things. Do your best to be at peace when he finds you. Have no stain and nothing wrong in your life.

15And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

Remember this too. Our Lord is patient so that people can be saved. Our dear brother Paul wrote the same thing to you. God gave him the wisdom to say it.

16As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Paul says these things in all his letters. Some parts are hard to understand. People who do not know better twist his words. They twist the rest of the Scriptures the same way. Doing that ruins them.

17Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

Dear friends, you already know these things. So watch out. Do not be pulled away by people who break God's rules. Do not lose your firm footing.

18But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Instead, keep growing in God's kindness to you. Keep learning to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May he be honored now and forever. Amen.