That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
Parallel translations
- WEB so that you may approve the things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ;
- BSB so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
- NKJV that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
- NASB so that you may discover the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ;
- NLT For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The goal of growing love and discernment is to approve what is best and live sincere and blameless until Christ returns. Wise love produces pure character.
Overview
"Approve the things that are excellent" means testing and choosing what truly matters, not just avoiding the obviously bad. Sincerity (being unmixed, without hidden flaw) and being without offense prepare believers for "the day of Christ," His return and judgment. Discernment is for the sake of holy, unhypocritical living.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 40
- Rom 12:2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
- 1 Th 3:13To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
- 1 Th 5:23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Rom 2:18And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
- Eph 5:10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
- 1 Jn 4:1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
- Phil 1:6Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
- 1 Th 5:21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
- 1 Cor 1:8Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Matt 16:23But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
- Rev 2:2I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
- Matt 18:6–7But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
- John 1:47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
- Josh 24:14Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
- Rom 14:20–21For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
- Eph 5:27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
- 2 Cor 1:12For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
- Isa 7:15–16Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
- Amos 5:14–15Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.
- 2 Cor 11:13–15For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
- Job 34:3For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
- Heb 5:12–14For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
- Rom 8:7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
- Job 12:11Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
- Gen 20:5Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
- Rom 12:9Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
- Mic 3:2Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones;
- Matt 26:33Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
- Gal 5:11And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
- John 3:20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
- Rom 16:17Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
- 2 Cor 2:17For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
- 2 Cor 6:3Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
- Acts 24:16And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
- Rom 7:16If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
- Phil 1:16The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
- 2 Cor 8:8I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
- Rom 7:22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
- Eph 4:15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
- Eph 6:24Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
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The one who, being in the form of God, emptied himself to the point of death on a cross and was exalted to the name above every name — the joy and prize of the believer.
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Original language
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