GREETINGS

¹From Small Man (Paul), chosen by the Great Spirit to be a message bearer for Creator Sets Free (Jesus).

To the Great Spirit’s holy people who live in Village of Desire (Ephesus), who walk the good path following the Chosen One.

²Great kindness and peace to you from the Father above and from our Honored Chief Creator Sets Free (Jesus), who is the Chosen One.

CHOSEN FOR GREAT KINDNESS

³All blessings belong to the Great Spirit, who is the Father of Creator Sets Free (Jesus). From the spirit-world above he has gifted us with all spiritual blessings found in the Chosen One.

⁴In the same way, before he made all things and because of his great love, the Maker of Life chose to make us pure and holy in his eyes. ⁵He also decided ahead of time, through Creator Sets Free (Jesus), to take us into his family, fulfilling his purpose and making his heart glad. ⁶This great kindness he has shown us brings honor to him and gives us a highly honored place, together with his much-loved Son.

^7-8By paying the highest price, offering his own lifeblood, the Chosen One released us from a great captivity caused by our bad hearts and broken ways. He poured out all of this overflowing kindness on us, showing how wise and understanding he is.

HIDDEN WISDOM MADE CLEAR

⁹It makes Creator’s heart glad to show us the hidden wisdom of his plan for all of creation, now made clear through the Chosen One. ¹⁰This is how Creator brings all things to completion. He makes all things in the spirit-world above and on the earth below come together and find their full meaning and original purpose in the Chosen One.

^11-12The Chosen One has shared with us all that he has been given. This was Creator’s plan that he decided long ago to accomplish. A wise and powerful vision he saw within himself. Creator is working out all the details, fitting everything into his purpose, so that we, who are from the tribes of Wrestles with Creator (Israel), who have first put our hope in the Chosen One, will bring praise and honor to him.

¹³And now, not only we but all other Nations who have heard the truth of this message can participate in his plan. This is the good story that sets all people free.

When we trusted in the Chosen One, he marked us as his own by giving us his promised Holy Spirit. ¹⁴He did this to make sure that we, the people he paid a great price for, will receive all that he has planned for us. This brings great praise and honor to him.

SENDING UP PRAYERS

¹⁵Ever since I heard of the trust you have in Creator Sets Free (Jesus) and your deep love for all of his holy people, ¹⁶I have never stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you when I send my voice to the Great Spirit.

¹⁷I pray that the Father of honor and beauty, who is the Great Spirit of our Honored Chief Creator Sets Free (Jesus), will gift you with a spirit of wisdom to know him deeply and understand his mysterious ways.

¹⁸I am asking him to shine his light into your hearts so you can clearly see the hope he has chosen us for and the beautiful treasure he has in us, his holy people.

¹⁹I pray he will show how much greater his power is for all who put their trust in him. ²⁰This is the same power he used when he brought the Chosen One back to life from the dead and gave him the seat of honor at his right hand. ²¹This is a high spiritual place greater than all rulers, authorities, and powers. It is a place higher and stronger than all names that can be named, not only in this world but also in the one that is coming.

²²This is how he brought all things, seen and unseen, under his loving power and made him the elder1 of his sacred family. ²³This sacred family is his body on earth, made whole by the one who gives everything and everyone their full meaning and purpose.

A DARK PATH

¹We all once walked a dark and crooked path that led us to death. ²Our broken ways caused us to miss the mark and wander from the good path, following the worthless ways of this world.

We all once walked the dark path of the evil one who rules the spiritual atmosphere of this world, that evil spirit who is at work in human beings who have lost their way. ³This is how all of us once lived when we followed our uncontrolled emotions fed by bodily desires and dark thoughts. These broken ways became our natural condition, and, like the rest of humankind, we were children deserving of Creator’s anger.

FROM DEATH TO LIFE

⁴But the Great Spirit, who is kind and forgiving, because of his deep love, ⁵raised us up from spiritual death. Even though we were walking the road of death, he made us alive again with the Chosen One. This is what it means to be rescued by the gift of his great kindness.

⁶He lifted us up with him to the highest place in the spirit-world above and put us on a seat of honor alongside the Chosen One. ⁷He did this to show us the overflowing greatness of his kindness and mercy, not only in this age but in the many ages to come—all because of what the Chosen One has done.

A GREAT GIFT

⁸It is by trusting in the gift of his great kindness that we have been made whole. It is not because of any good thing we have done, but only by accepting a gift that we could never earn. ⁹In this way, no one can brag or boast about themselves, but only humbly give thanks. ¹⁰We are like clay in his hands, molded from the Chosen One, made to be like him, and walking the ancient pathways he originally created us for.

OUTSIDERS AND INSIDERS

¹¹You Nations must not forget that before you knew the Chosen One you were not natural-born2 members of the tribes of Wrestles with Creator (Israel). You were called “the outsiders”3 by the ones who call themselves “the insiders.”4 But remember, the sign that marks them as insiders is cut into their flesh with human hands.

¹²You Outside Nations did not share in the promises or the peace treaty that the Great Spirit made with those tribes. You were out from under their special care and protection—unaware of and apart from the Chosen One. You shared no common hope and were outside the help Creator gave to them in this world.

HE IS OUR GREAT PEACE

¹³But no more! Even though you Outside Nations were far away, you have now been made close by the lifeblood offered by Creator Sets Free (Jesus), the Chosen One. ¹⁴He is our great peace, who has brought the people of all Nations together with the tribes of Wrestles with Creator (Israel), making them into one new people by removing the barrier that separated us.

¹⁵In his own human body he removed the hostility between us when he did away with the rules and requirements of our tribal law that separated us. This is the way he recreates people—making one new humanity out of the two. This brings us all together on the path of peace.

A CLEAR PATH

¹⁶Even though we behaved like enemies, we are now friends with the Great Spirit and with one another. When Creator Sets Free (Jesus) died on the cross, those things that made us enemies died with him. We are now joined together as one people in one body. ¹⁷He brought this good story of peace and harmony to people who were far away from him and to people who were close to him. ¹⁸Because of him we both have a clear path, through one Spirit, to the Father from above.

A NEW SACRED LODGE

¹⁹Now we are all his holy people and members of one new nation. No one is on the outside of this great family that our Father is creating. We are all related to one another and initiated into Creator’s lodge that is built together with wooden poles— ²⁰the message bearers and prophets of old. Creator Sets Free (Jesus) is the main pole binding us together, ²¹like branches being weaved into his sacred lodge. ²²Joined together in this way, we become a dwelling place for his Spirit.

A GREAT MYSTERY REVEALED

¹Because I, Small Man (Paul), follow the Chosen One and represent you Nations in this way, I have been arrested and put in chains. ²I am sure you have heard how the Great Spirit chose me, because of his great kindness, to be a wisdomkeeper to all Nations. ³Creator chose me, by a sacred vision, to make known this hidden wisdom that I have already spoken about.

⁴When you hear this message, you will understand how I see the mystery of the Chosen One. ⁵This mystery was not made known to the generations of humankind that walked before us in the same way his Spirit has now told it to his holy message bearers and prophets.

⁶This mystery is that the people of all Nations have equal share in the blessings promised to the tribes of Wrestles with Creator (Israel). They have full membership in the same body and are included in the promise through the Chosen One as told in the good story.

CHOSEN TO TELL THE GOOD STORY

⁷The gift of Creator’s great kindness came to me in a powerful way and created in me a desire to serve this good story. ⁸Even though I am small and weak among his holy people, he still chose me to tell all Nations about the mysterious treasures he has hidden in the Chosen One ⁹and about the unfolding of this ancient plan—a great mystery that was hidden away for many ages in Creator’s heart. ¹⁰So that now, through his sacred family, his great wisdom, which is like a rainbow with many colors, will be made known to the powers and rulers in the spirit-world above.

¹¹This good story gives full meaning to the ancient purpose he planned before he created all things. This purpose has now been made clear though the Chosen One, Creator Sets Free (Jesus). ¹²Our trust in him opens the way and gives us strong hearts to move close to the Great Spirit. ¹³So do not become weak of heart when you hear about how much I am suffering for you, which is proof of your great worth.

A HUMBLE PRAYER

¹⁴This is the reason I bow down on my knees and humble myself before the Father above, ¹⁵from whom all families, clans, and tribes, in this world and in the spirit-world above, are named.

¹⁶My prayer for you is that from the great treasures of his beauty, Creator will gift you with the Spirit’s mighty power and strengthen you in your inner being. ¹⁷In this way, the Chosen One will make his home in your heart.

I pray that as you trust in him, your roots will go deep into the soil of his great love, ¹⁸and that from these roots you will draw the strength and courage needed to walk this sacred path together with all his holy people. This path of love is higher than the stars, deeper than the great waters, wider than the sky. Yes, this love comes from and reaches to all directions.

I pray that you would feel how deep the Chosen One’s great love is. ¹⁹It is a love that goes beyond our small and weak ways of thinking. This love fills us with the Great Spirit, the one who fills all things. ²⁰I am praying to the Maker of Life, who, by his great power working in us, can do far more than what we ask for, more than our small minds can imagine.

²¹May his sacred family and the Chosen One bring honor to him across all generations, to the time beyond the end of all days. Aho! May it be so!

A HUMBLE PATH

¹Because I walk the road with our Honored Chief, I have been made a prisoner. I now call on you to join me in representing him in a good way as you follow the path he has chosen for you. ²Walk with a humble and gentle spirit, patiently showing love and respect to each other. ³Let his Spirit weave you together in peace as you dance in step with one another in the great circle of life.

⁴In this circle we are joined together in one body, by one Spirit, chosen to follow one purpose. ⁵There is only one Honored Chief, one common faith, and one purification ceremony.5 ⁶There is one Great Spirit and Father of us all, who is above all, and who works in and through all.

THE HEADDRESS OF THE CHOSEN ONE

⁷His great kindness has gifted each of us from the headdress6 of the Chosen One. ⁸That is why it is said, “When he was lifted up on high, he captured many warriors, took their spoils of war, and gave them back to the people.”7

⁹What does “he was lifted up” mean? It could only mean that he had to first come down, into the lowest parts of the earth, ¹⁰so he could be lifted up, to the highest place, and be the one who would restore all things.

WALKING IN HARMONY

¹¹He gifted us with message bearers, prophets, tellers of the good story, and wisdomkeepers, who watch over us like a shepherd watches over his sheep. ¹²These gifts were given to prepare Creator’s holy people for the work of helping others and to make the body of the Chosen One strong ¹³until we all follow the good road8 in harmony with each other because we know and understand who Creator’s Son is.

We will then be like the Chosen One—mature human beings, living and walking in his ways, and fully reflecting who he is. ¹⁴No longer will we be like children who are tossed about by the waves and follow every voice they hear in the wind. We will no longer listen to the ones who behave like tricksters with their forked tongues.

¹⁵Instead, as true human beings, we will walk out this truth on the path of love. When we become fully grown, we will be like the Chosen One, joined together with him in the same way a body is connected to its head. ¹⁶Every joint in this body is needed to hold it together and help it grow. When all the parts work together the way they should, then the body grows strong in the love of the Great Spirit.

REPRESENTING OUR HONORED CHIEF

¹⁷I say this to you as one who represents our Honored Chief. You must no longer walk the dark path of the Nations who have chosen their own ways. ¹⁸Their minds have no good thoughts, because the darkness has taken away their ability to see and think clearly. Their hearts have become as hard as stone and can no longer beat with the life that comes from the Great Spirit. ¹⁹This takes them down the path of greed and selfish pleasure, leading to an impure life. ²⁰This is not the path you learned from the Chosen One, ²¹for the true path to walk is only found in Creator Sets Free (Jesus).

²²Take off that worn-out and stained outfit of your past life with its selfish desires and worthless ways of thinking. It no longer represents who you are. ²³You are now true human beings, with a new way of seeing and thinking. ²⁴Put on the regalia of your new life. For you have been made new, created again to look like the one who made you, standing in a good way and walking a true and sacred path.

LIVING IN HARMONY

²⁵We are all members of one body—one tribe—so we must speak truth and be honest with each other, leaving the path of falsehood far behind.

²⁶There are times when anger is the right thing, but do not let your anger turn into rage, for it will burn like a wildfire. Work things out before the sun sets that day, ²⁷or the evil one may use it to burn up all the good things in your life.9

There is no room for thieves on this sacred path. ²⁸The ones among you who have stolen and taken what is not theirs must learn to do good, working hard with their hands. In this way they will not only have enough for themselves but also something to help others.

DO NOT GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT

²⁹Keep a close watch over the words you speak, for our mouths can be full of worthless and empty talk that will bring death to others. Let your words be full of wisdom and goodwill that will give strength and bring healing to the ones who hear you. ³⁰In this way, Creator’s Holy Spirit will not be grieved. For it is he who marks you as his own and keeps you safe for the day when all things will be complete.10

³¹Let Creator pull the bitter roots from your heart, for they feed the rage and anger that takes you down a path of fighting, hurting, and speaking evil of your fellow human beings. ³²Instead, show goodwill and kindness to others, by releasing them from the things they have done wrong. For this is what the Great Spirit, through the Chosen One, has done for you.

WALKING HIS ROAD

¹We must follow in the steps of the Great Spirit, for we are his much-loved children. ²Walk the road of love, following the path of the Chosen One, who loved us and offered up his life to the Great Spirit like the smoke of burning sage.

³Sexual relations are sacred. They must be kept pure, and free from uncontrolled desire. As his holy people, we must follow Creator’s purpose and plan for human beings who represent him. ⁴Sexual relations should be spoken of with respect—no foolish talk or dirty jokes. Instead, give thanks for this sacred gift of creating new life.

⁵Listen closely, no one who walks an impure path of uncontrolled desires participates in the good road of the Chosen One and the Great Spirit. The ones who walk in this way follow lying spirits that take them down a dark path, far from the sacred ways of the Great Spirit. ⁶Do not listen to their empty words and forked tongues, for the Great Spirit’s anger will be shown to the ones who follow these ways. ⁷Do not walk with them on a path that leads to a bad end.

DARKNESS AND LIGHT

⁸As weak human beings, you were once empty and full of darkness, but now that Creator’s Spirit lives in you, you are beings full of light. ⁹Walk in the light, and all things good and right and true will shine out from you. ¹⁰This will prove you are his children—the ones who seek for ways to make his heart glad.

¹¹Turn away from the path of darkness with its worthless ways. Instead, let your light shine into the darkness to show the way out. ¹²The shameful things done under the blanket of night should not even be spoken of, ¹³for the light shines into the darkness and takes the mask off its empty ways. It is like the sunrise that pushes back the night and brings the light of a new day. ¹⁴This is why it is said, “Wake up, O sleeper, come back from the dead, and the Chosen One will shine on you!”

THE WAY OF WISDOM

¹⁵Walk with your eyes wide open and make wise use of your time, ¹⁶for the evil days we live in are full of worthless and troubled ways. ¹⁷Keep foolishness far from you and welcome the ways of wisdom, for then you will clearly see the path Creator has chosen for you.

¹⁸It is not wise to become a drunk, for it will lead you to a life of emptiness and sorrow. Instead, drink deeply of Creator’s Spirit, and he will lead you into a life of beauty and harmony.

¹⁹At your gatherings, tell the ancient stories and sing the traditional songs. Sing spiritual songs from your heart as you dance before the Great Spirit, ²⁰giving thanks to our Father the Creator, as you represent our Honored Chief, Creator Sets Free (Jesus), the Chosen One.

WISDOM FOR HUSBANDS AND WIVES

²¹If you have respect for the Chosen One, then have respect for each other. ²²Wives, honor your husbands in the same way you honor the Great Spirit. ²³Just as the Chosen One guides and protects his sacred family as his own body when they put their trust in him, ²⁴so a wife should, in the same way, follow the loving guidance of her husband in all these things.

²⁵Husbands, love your wives just as the Chosen One loved and gave his life for his sacred family. ²⁶He did this to give them a place of honor and dignity above all others. He washes all with the purifying water of the word he speaks over them. ²⁷He will clothe his sacred family with the regalia of beauty and harmony with no wrinkles or stains, like a bride dressed for her wedding day. ²⁸This is the manner in which husbands should love their wives, as their own bodies. For the one who loves his wife loves himself. ^29-30No one hates his own body but instead takes good care of it, just as the Chosen One does for his sacred family. We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

³¹“For this purpose a man must leave his father and mother, so he can join with his wife, and the two will become one body.”11 ³²This is a great mystery, but I am telling you that it is about the Chosen One and his sacred family. ³³So each man should love his wife as himself, treat her as he wants her to treat him, and each wife is to give respect to her husband.

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS ON RESPECT

¹Children, it is the right thing to follow the guidance of your parents, for this is what Creator wants. ²“Honor your father and mother.” This is the first instruction in our tribal law that carries a promise with it— ³“that it will go well with you, and you will live long on the land.”12

⁴Fathers, if you push your children too hard, it will only make them angry. Instead, help them to grow strong in the ways of the Great Spirit.

⁵Slaves, do everything your earthly masters tell you to do. Show great respect to them in the same way you serve the Chosen One. Do this from a strong and pure heart, ⁶not just to look good to your earthly master, ⁷but as if you were serving our Honored Chief, ⁸knowing that Creator will see and honor all who serve others, no matter whether they are slaves or free.

⁹Masters, do not use threats, but treat your slaves with the same respect you would give to the Great Spirit. For he is your master from the spirit-world above as well as theirs, and he will not favor one over another.

PREPARING FOR SPIRITUAL WARFARE

¹⁰Last of all, I must remind you that we are all fighting in a spiritual battle. We are weak human beings, so let your strength come from our Great Warrior Chief. ¹¹The only way to stand strong against the war plans of the evil trickster13 is to put on Creator’s war garments. ¹²But remember, we are not fighting against human beings. Our battle is against the evil rulers, the dark powers, and the spiritual forces of the spirit-world above and around us.

¹³Once you are fully dressed for this war, you will be able to stand your ground in this day of the enemy’s evil rule. You are now ready to make your stand—so stand strong. ¹⁴Wrap the sash of truth around your waist. Cover your heart with the breastplate of making wrongs right again. ¹⁵Put on your feet the moccasins of Creator’s peace treaty, so you will always be ready to tell the good story as you walk the road of life. ¹⁶Then you must raise high the shield of trusting in Creator. This shield will put out the flaming arrows of the evil one. Do not forget to ¹⁷put on the headdress of Creator’s power to rescue and set free, and use the long knife of the Spirit—which is the word of Creator coming from your mouth.

¹⁸All of this is done by prayer, sending your voice to the Great Spirit, asking him for all that is needed. As you pray with the help of the Spirit, stay alert and keep all of Creator’s holy people in your thoughts, praying for their needs. ¹⁹Also ask Creator to give me the right words to speak and the courage to make known the mystery of Creator’s good story. ²⁰This is the reason I now represent the Great Spirit as a captive in chains. Pray that I will speak with boldness and not hold back.

FINAL WORDS

^21-22So you will know how I am doing, I am sending He Is at Ease (Tychicus), a much-loved spiritual brother and one who serves others as a gift from Creator. He will let you know how we are doing so your hearts can be lifted up and strengthened.

²³Peace be to all the sacred family members, along with love and trust from the Great Spirit, who is our Father, and from our Wisdomkeeper, Creator Sets Free (Jesus), the Chosen One.

²⁴May Creator’s great kindness rest on all who love the Chosen One, with a love that will never grow old or fade away.