God’s Chosen Ones - A Poem by the Apostle Paul

So as God’s chosen ones,

Holy and beloved,

Put on a heart of compassion,

Kindness,

Humility,

Gentleness,

And patience,

Bearing with one another and,

If one has a complaint against another,

Forgiving each other,

As the Lord forgave you,

So you also must forgive,

And over all these virtues put on love,

Which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Colossians 3:12-14 Paraphrased

J. Clontz – Editor of The Comprehensive New Testament

www.CornerstonePublications.org

The Peace of God – A Poem by the Apostle Paul

Finally, brothers…

Whatever is true,

Whatever is honorable,

Whatever is right,

Whatever is pure,

Whatever is lovely,

Whatever is gracious,

If there is any excellence,

If there is anything worthy of praise,

Think about these things,

And the peace of God,

Which passes all understanding,

Will guard your hearts,

And your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7-8 Paraphrased

J. Clontz – Editor of The Comprehensive New Testament

www.CornerstonePublications.org

If – A Poem by the Apostle Paul

If there is any encouragement in Christ,

If there is any consolation of love,

If there is any fellowship of the Spirit,

If any affection and compassion,

Make my joy complete…

By being of the same mind,

Having the same love,

Being one in spirit and purpose.

Philippians 2:1-2

J. Clontz – Editor of The Comprehensive New Testament

www.CornerstonePublications.org

Grow Up – A Poem by the Apostle Paul

We are no longer to be children,

Tossed here and there by waves,

And carried about by every wind of doctrine,

By the cunning of men,

By their craftiness in deceitful scheming.

But speaking the truth in love,

We are to grow up in all aspects into him,

Who is the head, into Christ,

From whom the whole body,

Being joined and held together

By what every joint supplies,

According to the proper working of each part,

Causes the growth of the body,

And builds itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:14-16

Paul says “according to the proper working of each part” which means that we aren’t supposed to close our eyes since the proper work of the eyes is to see. He also says that we are to “speak the truth in Love.” If we put both of these concepts together then we are supposed to keep our eyes open and when see things that aren’t “building us up in love,” then we are to speak the truth in love since we have a mouth and it is supposed to speak. Therefore it is not the proper work of the body of Christ to keep our eyes shut to evil and sin. Nor is it the proper work of the body of Christ to keep our mouths closed and to not speak the truth about these things. For if our eyes are shut and our mouths are closed then we are like those who are already dead, but since we are alive we should speak about what we see.

I had a dream last night and I saw a person clothed like Saint Peter. He was in the driver’s seat but he fell and he chose to close his eyes and he chose to close his mouth. If those who “lead” the church refuse to see and refuse to speak the truth about what they see then we will not grow and the church will stop being built.  

J. Clontz – Editor of The Comprehensive New Testament

www.CornerstonePublications.org

Our Struggle – A Poem by the Apostle Paul

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood -

But against the rulers,

Against the powers,

Against the world forces of this darkness,

Against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Therefore take up the full armor of God,

Stand firm therefore,

Having girded your loins with truth,

And having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace,

In all this, taking up the shield of faith,

With which you can extinguish all [the] flaming arrows of the evil one,

And take the helmet of salvation,

And the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:12-17 Paraphrased

J. Clontz – Editor of The Comprehensive New Testament

www.CornerstonePublications.org

One for All – A Poem by the Apostle Paul

There is one body,

And one Spirit,

Just as you were called to the one hope,

That belongs to your call,

One Lord,

One faith,

One baptism,

One God and Father of all,

Who is over all,

And through all,

And in all.

Ephesians 4:4-6

J. Clontz – Editor of The Comprehensive New Testament

www.CornerstonePublications.org

A Poem about You by the Apostle Paul

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,

But you are fellow citizens with the saints,

And are members of God’s household,

Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,

Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,

In whom the whole building is joined together,

And rises to become a holy temple in the Lord,

In whom you also are being built together,

Into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:19-22

J. Clontz – Editor of The Comprehensive New Testament

www.CornerstonePublications.org