1 Corinthians 4:1 Don’t imagine us leaders to be something we aren’t. We are servants of Christ, not his masters. We are guides into God’s divine secrets, not security guards ...

4:1 MSG

逐节对照

The Message - Don’t imagine us leaders to be something we aren’t. We are servants of Christ, not his masters. We are guides into God’s divine secrets, not security guards posted to protect them. The requirements for a good guide are reliability and accurate knowledge. It matters very little to me what you think of me, even less where I rank in popular opinion. I don’t even rank myself. Comparisons in these matters are pointless. I’m not aware of anything that would disqualify me from being a good guide for you, but that doesn’t mean much. The Master makes that judgment.
新标点和合本 - 人应当以我们为基督的执事，为　神奥秘事的管家。
和合本2010（上帝版-简体） - 人应该把我们看为基督的执事，为上帝的奥秘的管家。
和合本2010（神版-简体） - 人应该把我们看为基督的执事，为　神的奥秘的管家。
当代译本 - 因此，人应该把我们当作是基督的仆人，是上帝奥秘事的管家。
圣经新译本 - 这样，人应该把我们看作基督的仆人，　神奥秘的事的管家。
中文标准译本 - 这样，人应该把我们看做是基督的仆人、神奥秘之事的管家。
现代标点和合本 - 人应当以我们为基督的执事，为神奥秘事的管家。
和合本（拼音版） - 人应当以我们为基督的执事，为上帝奥秘事的管家。
New International Version - This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.
New International Reader's Version - So here is how you should think of us. We serve Christ. We are trusted with the mysteries God has shown us.
English Standard Version - This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
New Living Translation - So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries.
Christian Standard Bible - A person should think of us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of the mysteries of God.
New American Standard Bible - This is the way any person is to regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
New King James Version - Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Amplified Bible - So then, let us [who minister] be regarded as servants of Christ and stewards (trustees, administrators) of the mysteries of God [that He chooses to reveal].
American Standard Version - Let a man so account of us, as of ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
King James Version - Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
New English Translation - One should think about us this way – as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
World English Bible - So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants, and stewards of God’s mysteries.
新標點和合本 - 人應當以我們為基督的執事，為神奧祕事的管家。
和合本2010（上帝版-繁體） - 人應該把我們看為基督的執事，為上帝的奧祕的管家。
和合本2010（神版-繁體） - 人應該把我們看為基督的執事，為　神的奧祕的管家。
當代譯本 - 因此，人應該把我們當作是基督的僕人，是上帝奧祕事的管家。
聖經新譯本 - 這樣，人應該把我們看作基督的僕人，　神奧祕的事的管家。
呂振中譯本 - 所以人應當這樣把我們看為基督的差事，做上帝之奧祕事的管家。
中文標準譯本 - 這樣，人應該把我們看做是基督的僕人、神奧祕之事的管家。
現代標點和合本 - 人應當以我們為基督的執事，為神奧祕事的管家。
文理和合譯本 - 人當以我儕為基督之役、上帝奧秘之宰、
文理委辦譯本 - 人當以我儕為基督執事、司上帝奧、
施約瑟淺文理新舊約聖經 - 人當視我儕為基督之役、宰天主奧妙者、
吳經熊文理聖詠與新經全集 - 人當視吾輩為基督之臣僕、天主眾妙之司庫。
Nueva Versión Internacional - Que todos nos consideren servidores de Cristo, encargados de administrar los misterios de Dios.
현대인의 성경 - 그렇다면 사람들은 마땅히 우리를 그리스도의 일꾼이며 하나님의 비밀을 맡은 사람으로 여겨야 합니다.
Новый Русский Перевод - Итак принимайте нас как служителей Христа, которым были вверены тайны Божьи.
Восточный перевод - Итак, принимайте нас как служителей Масиха, которым были вверены тайны Всевышнего.
Восточный перевод, версия с «Аллахом» - Итак, принимайте нас как служителей аль-Масиха, которым были вверены тайны Аллаха.
Восточный перевод, версия для Таджикистана - Итак, принимайте нас как служителей Масеха, которым были вверены тайны Всевышнего.
La Bible du Semeur 2015 - Ainsi, qu’on nous considère comme de simples serviteurs de Christ, des intendants chargés des secrets de Dieu.
リビングバイブル - こういうわけでアポロや私を、神の深い御心を説明し、その祝福を配って回る、キリストの福音を預かる管理者と考えてください。
Nestle Aland 28 - Οὕτως ἡμᾶς λογιζέσθω ἄνθρωπος ὡς ὑπηρέτας Χριστοῦ καὶ οἰκονόμους μυστηρίων θεοῦ.
unfoldingWord® Greek New Testament - οὕτως ἡμᾶς λογιζέσθω ἄνθρωπος ὡς ὑπηρέτας Χριστοῦ, καὶ οἰκονόμους μυστηρίων Θεοῦ.
Nova Versão Internacional - Portanto, que todos nos considerem servos de Cristo e encarregados dos mistérios de Deus.
Hoffnung für alle - Seht in uns also Diener von Christus und Boten, denen Gott die Verkündigung seiner Geheimnisse anvertraut hat.
Kinh Thánh Hiện Đại - Anh chị em hãy coi chúng tôi là đầy tớ của Chúa Cứu Thế, là quản gia có nhiệm vụ trình bày huyền nhiệm của Đức Chúa Trời.
พระคริสตธรรมคัมภีร์ไทย ฉบับอมตธรรมร่วมสมัย - ดังนั้นแล้วคนทั้งหลายจึงควรถือว่าพวกเราเป็นผู้รับใช้ของพระคริสต์ และควรถือว่าพวกเราเป็นผู้ที่ได้รับมอบหมายสิ่งล้ำลึกของพระเจ้า
พระคัมภีร์ ฉบับแปลใหม่ - ดังนั้น จงให้ผู้อื่นเห็นว่าเราเป็นผู้รับใช้ของพระคริสต์ และเป็นผู้อารักขาสิ่งลึกลับของพระเจ้า

交叉引用

Luke 12:42 - The Master said, “Let me ask you: Who is the dependable manager, full of common sense, that the master puts in charge of his staff to feed them well and on time? He is a blessed man if when the master shows up he’s doing his job. But if he says to himself, ‘The master is certainly taking his time,’ begins beating up on the servants and maids, throws parties for his friends, and gets drunk, the master will walk in when he least expects it, give him the thrashing of his life, and put him back in the kitchen peeling potatoes.
Luke 16:1 - Jesus said to his disciples, “There was once a rich man who had a manager. He got reports that the manager had been taking advantage of his position by running up huge personal expenses. So he called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? You’re fired. And I want a complete audit of your books.’
Luke 16:3 - “The manager said to himself, ‘What am I going to do? I’ve lost my job as manager. I’m not strong enough for a laboring job, and I’m too proud to beg. . . . Ah, I’ve got a plan. Here’s what I’ll do . . . then when I’m turned out into the street, people will take me into their houses.’
2 Corinthians 11:23 - I’ve worked much harder, been jailed more often, beaten up more times than I can count, and at death’s door time after time. I’ve been flogged five times with the Jews’ thirty-nine lashes, beaten by Roman rods three times, pummeled with rocks once. I’ve been shipwrecked three times, and immersed in the open sea for a night and a day. In hard traveling year in and year out, I’ve had to ford rivers, fend off robbers, struggle with friends, struggle with foes. I’ve been at risk in the city, at risk in the country, endangered by desert sun and sea storm, and betrayed by those I thought were my brothers. I’ve known drudgery and hard labor, many a long and lonely night without sleep, many a missed meal, blasted by the cold, naked to the weather.
Matthew 24:45 - “Who here qualifies for the job of overseeing the kitchen? A person the Master can depend on to feed the workers on time each day. Someone the Master can drop in on unannounced and always find him doing his job. A God-blessed man or woman, I tell you. It won’t be long before the Master will put this person in charge of the whole operation.
Luke 8:10 - He said, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom—you know how it works. There are others who need stories. But even with stories some of them aren’t going to get it: Their eyes are open but don’t see a thing, Their ears are open but don’t hear a thing.
Ephesians 3:4 - As you read over what I have written to you, you’ll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ. None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God’s Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order. The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I’ve been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board.
Ephesians 3:7 - This is my life work: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details. When it came to presenting the Message to people who had no background in God’s way, I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure that it had nothing to do with my natural abilities.
Ephesians 3:8 - And so here I am, preaching and writing about things that are way over my head, the inexhaustible riches and generosity of Christ. My task is to bring out in the open and make plain what God, who created all this in the first place, has been doing in secret and behind the scenes all along. Through followers of Jesus like yourselves gathered in churches, this extraordinary plan of God is becoming known and talked about even among the angels!
1 Corinthians 3:5 - Who do you think Paul is, anyway? Or Apollos, for that matter? Servants, both of us—servants who waited on you as you gradually learned to entrust your lives to our mutual Master. We each carried out our servant assignment. I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plants, but God made you grow. It’s not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow. Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages. What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving. You happen to be God’s field in which we are working.
Matthew 13:11 - He replied, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn’t been given to them. Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That’s why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward a welcome awakening. In their present state they can stare till doomsday and not see it, listen till they’re blue in the face and not get it. I don’t want Isaiah’s forecast repeated all over again: Your ears are open but you don’t hear a thing. Your eyes are awake but you don’t see a thing. The people are stupid! They stick their fingers in their ears so they won’t have to listen; They screw their eyes shut so they won’t have to look, so they won’t have to deal with me face-to-face and let me heal them.
Colossians 2:2 - I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God’s great mystery. All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in that mystery and nowhere else. And we’ve been shown the mystery! I’m telling you this because I don’t want anyone leading you off on some wild-goose chase, after other so-called mysteries, or “the Secret.”
2 Corinthians 12:6 - If I had a mind to brag a little, I could probably do it without looking ridiculous, and I’d still be speaking plain truth all the way. But I’ll spare you. I don’t want anyone imagining me as anything other than the fool you’d encounter if you saw me on the street or heard me talk.
2 Corinthians 4:5 - Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we’re proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, “Light up the darkness!” and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.
Romans 16:25 - All of our praise rises to the One who is strong enough to make you strong, exactly as preached in Jesus Christ, precisely as revealed in the mystery kept secret for so long but now an open book through the prophetic Scriptures. All the nations of the world can now know the truth and be brought into obedient belief, carrying out the orders of God, who got all this started, down to the final detail.
Colossians 1:26 - This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it’s out in the open. God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in God’s glory. It’s that simple. That is the substance of our Message. We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less. That’s what I’m working so hard at day after day, year after year, doing my best with the energy God so generously gives me.
Ephesians 6:19 - And don’t forget to pray for me. Pray that I’ll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I, jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out.

逐节对照

交叉引用

The Message - Don’t imagine us leaders to be something we aren’t. We are servants of Christ, not his masters. We are guides into God’s divine secrets, not security guards posted to protect them. The requirements for a good guide are reliability and accurate knowledge. It matters very little to me what you think of me, even less where I rank in popular opinion. I don’t even rank myself. Comparisons in these matters are pointless. I’m not aware of anything that would disqualify me from being a good guide for you, but that doesn’t mean much. The Master makes that judgment.
新标点和合本 - 人应当以我们为基督的执事，为　神奥秘事的管家。
和合本2010（上帝版-简体） - 人应该把我们看为基督的执事，为上帝的奥秘的管家。
和合本2010（神版-简体） - 人应该把我们看为基督的执事，为　神的奥秘的管家。
当代译本 - 因此，人应该把我们当作是基督的仆人，是上帝奥秘事的管家。
圣经新译本 - 这样，人应该把我们看作基督的仆人，　神奥秘的事的管家。
中文标准译本 - 这样，人应该把我们看做是基督的仆人、神奥秘之事的管家。
现代标点和合本 - 人应当以我们为基督的执事，为神奥秘事的管家。
和合本（拼音版） - 人应当以我们为基督的执事，为上帝奥秘事的管家。
New International Version - This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.
New International Reader's Version - So here is how you should think of us. We serve Christ. We are trusted with the mysteries God has shown us.
English Standard Version - This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
New Living Translation - So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries.
Christian Standard Bible - A person should think of us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of the mysteries of God.
New American Standard Bible - This is the way any person is to regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
New King James Version - Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Amplified Bible - So then, let us [who minister] be regarded as servants of Christ and stewards (trustees, administrators) of the mysteries of God [that He chooses to reveal].
American Standard Version - Let a man so account of us, as of ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
King James Version - Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
New English Translation - One should think about us this way – as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
World English Bible - So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants, and stewards of God’s mysteries.
新標點和合本 - 人應當以我們為基督的執事，為神奧祕事的管家。
和合本2010（上帝版-繁體） - 人應該把我們看為基督的執事，為上帝的奧祕的管家。
和合本2010（神版-繁體） - 人應該把我們看為基督的執事，為　神的奧祕的管家。
當代譯本 - 因此，人應該把我們當作是基督的僕人，是上帝奧祕事的管家。
聖經新譯本 - 這樣，人應該把我們看作基督的僕人，　神奧祕的事的管家。
呂振中譯本 - 所以人應當這樣把我們看為基督的差事，做上帝之奧祕事的管家。
中文標準譯本 - 這樣，人應該把我們看做是基督的僕人、神奧祕之事的管家。
現代標點和合本 - 人應當以我們為基督的執事，為神奧祕事的管家。
文理和合譯本 - 人當以我儕為基督之役、上帝奧秘之宰、
文理委辦譯本 - 人當以我儕為基督執事、司上帝奧、
施約瑟淺文理新舊約聖經 - 人當視我儕為基督之役、宰天主奧妙者、
吳經熊文理聖詠與新經全集 - 人當視吾輩為基督之臣僕、天主眾妙之司庫。
Nueva Versión Internacional - Que todos nos consideren servidores de Cristo, encargados de administrar los misterios de Dios.
현대인의 성경 - 그렇다면 사람들은 마땅히 우리를 그리스도의 일꾼이며 하나님의 비밀을 맡은 사람으로 여겨야 합니다.
Новый Русский Перевод - Итак принимайте нас как служителей Христа, которым были вверены тайны Божьи.
Восточный перевод - Итак, принимайте нас как служителей Масиха, которым были вверены тайны Всевышнего.
Восточный перевод, версия с «Аллахом» - Итак, принимайте нас как служителей аль-Масиха, которым были вверены тайны Аллаха.
Восточный перевод, версия для Таджикистана - Итак, принимайте нас как служителей Масеха, которым были вверены тайны Всевышнего.
La Bible du Semeur 2015 - Ainsi, qu’on nous considère comme de simples serviteurs de Christ, des intendants chargés des secrets de Dieu.
リビングバイブル - こういうわけでアポロや私を、神の深い御心を説明し、その祝福を配って回る、キリストの福音を預かる管理者と考えてください。
Nestle Aland 28 - Οὕτως ἡμᾶς λογιζέσθω ἄνθρωπος ὡς ὑπηρέτας Χριστοῦ καὶ οἰκονόμους μυστηρίων θεοῦ.
unfoldingWord® Greek New Testament - οὕτως ἡμᾶς λογιζέσθω ἄνθρωπος ὡς ὑπηρέτας Χριστοῦ, καὶ οἰκονόμους μυστηρίων Θεοῦ.
Nova Versão Internacional - Portanto, que todos nos considerem servos de Cristo e encarregados dos mistérios de Deus.
Hoffnung für alle - Seht in uns also Diener von Christus und Boten, denen Gott die Verkündigung seiner Geheimnisse anvertraut hat.
Kinh Thánh Hiện Đại - Anh chị em hãy coi chúng tôi là đầy tớ của Chúa Cứu Thế, là quản gia có nhiệm vụ trình bày huyền nhiệm của Đức Chúa Trời.
พระคริสตธรรมคัมภีร์ไทย ฉบับอมตธรรมร่วมสมัย - ดังนั้นแล้วคนทั้งหลายจึงควรถือว่าพวกเราเป็นผู้รับใช้ของพระคริสต์ และควรถือว่าพวกเราเป็นผู้ที่ได้รับมอบหมายสิ่งล้ำลึกของพระเจ้า
พระคัมภีร์ ฉบับแปลใหม่ - ดังนั้น จงให้ผู้อื่นเห็นว่าเราเป็นผู้รับใช้ของพระคริสต์ และเป็นผู้อารักขาสิ่งลึกลับของพระเจ้า

Luke 12:42 - The Master said, “Let me ask you: Who is the dependable manager, full of common sense, that the master puts in charge of his staff to feed them well and on time? He is a blessed man if when the master shows up he’s doing his job. But if he says to himself, ‘The master is certainly taking his time,’ begins beating up on the servants and maids, throws parties for his friends, and gets drunk, the master will walk in when he least expects it, give him the thrashing of his life, and put him back in the kitchen peeling potatoes.
Luke 16:1 - Jesus said to his disciples, “There was once a rich man who had a manager. He got reports that the manager had been taking advantage of his position by running up huge personal expenses. So he called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? You’re fired. And I want a complete audit of your books.’
Luke 16:3 - “The manager said to himself, ‘What am I going to do? I’ve lost my job as manager. I’m not strong enough for a laboring job, and I’m too proud to beg. . . . Ah, I’ve got a plan. Here’s what I’ll do . . . then when I’m turned out into the street, people will take me into their houses.’
2 Corinthians 11:23 - I’ve worked much harder, been jailed more often, beaten up more times than I can count, and at death’s door time after time. I’ve been flogged five times with the Jews’ thirty-nine lashes, beaten by Roman rods three times, pummeled with rocks once. I’ve been shipwrecked three times, and immersed in the open sea for a night and a day. In hard traveling year in and year out, I’ve had to ford rivers, fend off robbers, struggle with friends, struggle with foes. I’ve been at risk in the city, at risk in the country, endangered by desert sun and sea storm, and betrayed by those I thought were my brothers. I’ve known drudgery and hard labor, many a long and lonely night without sleep, many a missed meal, blasted by the cold, naked to the weather.
Matthew 24:45 - “Who here qualifies for the job of overseeing the kitchen? A person the Master can depend on to feed the workers on time each day. Someone the Master can drop in on unannounced and always find him doing his job. A God-blessed man or woman, I tell you. It won’t be long before the Master will put this person in charge of the whole operation.
Luke 8:10 - He said, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom—you know how it works. There are others who need stories. But even with stories some of them aren’t going to get it: Their eyes are open but don’t see a thing, Their ears are open but don’t hear a thing.
Ephesians 3:4 - As you read over what I have written to you, you’ll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ. None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God’s Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order. The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I’ve been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board.
Ephesians 3:7 - This is my life work: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details. When it came to presenting the Message to people who had no background in God’s way, I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure that it had nothing to do with my natural abilities.
Ephesians 3:8 - And so here I am, preaching and writing about things that are way over my head, the inexhaustible riches and generosity of Christ. My task is to bring out in the open and make plain what God, who created all this in the first place, has been doing in secret and behind the scenes all along. Through followers of Jesus like yourselves gathered in churches, this extraordinary plan of God is becoming known and talked about even among the angels!
1 Corinthians 3:5 - Who do you think Paul is, anyway? Or Apollos, for that matter? Servants, both of us—servants who waited on you as you gradually learned to entrust your lives to our mutual Master. We each carried out our servant assignment. I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plants, but God made you grow. It’s not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow. Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages. What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving. You happen to be God’s field in which we are working.
Matthew 13:11 - He replied, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn’t been given to them. Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That’s why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward a welcome awakening. In their present state they can stare till doomsday and not see it, listen till they’re blue in the face and not get it. I don’t want Isaiah’s forecast repeated all over again: Your ears are open but you don’t hear a thing. Your eyes are awake but you don’t see a thing. The people are stupid! They stick their fingers in their ears so they won’t have to listen; They screw their eyes shut so they won’t have to look, so they won’t have to deal with me face-to-face and let me heal them.
Colossians 2:2 - I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God’s great mystery. All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in that mystery and nowhere else. And we’ve been shown the mystery! I’m telling you this because I don’t want anyone leading you off on some wild-goose chase, after other so-called mysteries, or “the Secret.”
2 Corinthians 12:6 - If I had a mind to brag a little, I could probably do it without looking ridiculous, and I’d still be speaking plain truth all the way. But I’ll spare you. I don’t want anyone imagining me as anything other than the fool you’d encounter if you saw me on the street or heard me talk.
2 Corinthians 4:5 - Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we’re proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, “Light up the darkness!” and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.
Romans 16:25 - All of our praise rises to the One who is strong enough to make you strong, exactly as preached in Jesus Christ, precisely as revealed in the mystery kept secret for so long but now an open book through the prophetic Scriptures. All the nations of the world can now know the truth and be brought into obedient belief, carrying out the orders of God, who got all this started, down to the final detail.
Colossians 1:26 - This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it’s out in the open. God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in God’s glory. It’s that simple. That is the substance of our Message. We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less. That’s what I’m working so hard at day after day, year after year, doing my best with the energy God so generously gives me.
Ephesians 6:19 - And don’t forget to pray for me. Pray that I’ll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I, jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out.