Absent in Body, Present in Spirit (Revelation 3:14–22)
1 DRA For I would have you know, what manner of care I have for you and for them that are at Laodicea, and whosoever have not seen my face in the flesh: BSB BSB: For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me face to face,
2 DRA That their hearts may be comforted, being instructed in charity, and unto all riches of fulness of understanding, unto the knowledge of the mystery of God the Father and of Christ Jesus: BSB BSB: that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,
3 DRA In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. BSB BSB: in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 DRA Now this I say, that no man may deceive you by loftiness of words. BSB BSB: I say this so that no one will deceive you by smooth rhetoric.
5 DRA For though I be absent in body, yet in spirit I am with you; rejoicing, and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith which is in Christ. BSB BSB: For although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ.
Alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:1–10)
6 DRA As therefore you have received Jesus Christ the Lord, walk ye in him; BSB BSB: Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him,
7 DRA Rooted and built up in him, and confirmed in the faith, as also you have learned, abounding in him in thanksgiving. BSB BSB: rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
9 DRA For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead corporeally; BSB BSB: For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form.
10 DRA And you are filled in him, who is the head of all principality and power: BSB BSB: And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
11 DRA In whom also you are circumcised with circumcision not made by hand, in despoiling of the body of the flesh, but in the circumcision of Christ: BSB BSB: In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands.
12 DRA Buried with him in baptism, in whom also you are risen again by the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him up from the dead. BSB BSB: And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.
13 DRA And you, when you were dead in your sins, and the uncircumcision of your flesh; he hath quickened together with him, forgiving you all offences: BSB BSB: When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses,
14 DRA Blotting out the handwriting of the decree that was against us, which was contrary to us. And he hath taken the same out of the way, fastening it to the cross: BSB BSB: having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross!
17 DRA Which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ. BSB BSB: These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.
18 DRA Let no man seduce you, willing in humility, and religion of angels, walking in the things which he hath not seen, in vain puffed up by the sense of his flesh, BSB BSB: Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind.
19 DRA And not holding the head, from which the whole body, by joints and bands, being supplied with nourishment and compacted, groweth unto the increase of God. BSB BSB: He has lost connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow.
20 DRA If then you be dead with Christ from the elements of this world, why do you yet decree as though living in the world? BSB BSB: If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations:
21 DRA Touch not, taste not, handle not: BSB BSB: “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”?
22 DRA Which all are unto destruction by the very use, according to the precepts and doctrines of men. BSB BSB: These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.
23 DRA Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in superstition and humility, and not sparing the body; not in any honour to the filling of the flesh. BSB BSB: Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.