But we did not surrender to them even for a moment, in order that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.

He, the very one who descended, is also the one who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.

for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.

And I pray this, that your love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight

so that you can decide what is best, and thus be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ,

so that what you can be proud of may increase because of me in Christ Jesus, when I come back to you.

Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be encouraged by hearing news about you.

Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you can rejoice and I can be free from anxiety.

And tell Archippus, “See to it that you complete the ministry you received in the Lord.”

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would.

He died for us so that whether we are alert or asleep we will come to life together with him.

It was not because we do not have that right, but to give ourselves as an example for you to imitate.

As I urged you when I was leaving for Macedonia, stay on in Ephesus to instruct certain people not to spread false teachings,

Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

And he must be well thought of by those outside the faith, so that he may not fall into disgrace and be caught by the devil’s trap.

Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that everyone will see your progress.

Such testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply that they may be healthy in the faith

to be self-controlled, pure, fulfilling their duties at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the message of God may not be discredited.

and a sound message that cannot be criticized, so that any opponent will be at a loss, because he has nothing evil to say about us.

Here is another way that our people can learn to engage in good works to meet pressing needs and so not be unfruitful.