This was according to ¹  the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

This is the plan I have devised for the whole earth; my hand is ready to strike all the nations.” ¹ 

For I did not hold back from ¹  announcing ²  to you the whole purpose ³  of God.

The Lord works ¹  everything for its own ends ²  – even the wicked for the day of disaster. ³ 

There are many plans ¹  in a person’s mind, ²  but it ³  is the counsel ⁴  of the Lord which will stand.

And we know that all things work together ¹  for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose,

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our circumstances ¹  and that he may encourage your hearts.

For God has put into their minds ¹  to carry out his purpose ²  by making ³  a decision ⁴  to give their royal power ⁵  to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled. ⁶ 

“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted;

Plans ¹  are established by counsel, so ²  make war ³  with guidance.

In Christ ¹  we too have been claimed as God’s own possession, ²  since we were predestined according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will

I sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are doing ¹  and that he may encourage your hearts.

even before they were born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s purpose in election ¹  would stand, not by works but by ²  his calling) ³  –

Because of this the land will mourn and the sky above will grow black. ¹  For I have made my purpose known ²  and I will not relent or turn back from carrying it out.” ³ 

The earth will tremble and writhe in agony. ¹  For the Lord will carry out his plan. He plans to make the land of Babylonia ²  a wasteland where no one lives. ³ 

He did this when he revealed ¹  to us the secret ²  of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth ³  in Christ, ⁴ 

You, however, ¹  have followed my teaching, my ²  way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance,

I cry out for help to the sovereign God, ¹  to the God who vindicates ²  me.

so, to the contrary, I have planned in these days to do good to Jerusalem and Judah – do not fear!

For the scripture says to Pharaoh: ¹  “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may demonstrate my power in you, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” ²