Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.

Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.

And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in spreading the gospel.

Just as it is written, “He has scattered widely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever.”

was caught up into paradise and heard things too sacred to be put into words, things that a person is not permitted to speak.

And I testify again to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.

For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment, namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”

And all who will behave in accordance with this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on the Israel of God.

so that through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment accompanied by a promise, namely,

Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness,

The former proclaim Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, because they think they can cause trouble for me in my imprisonment.

since you are encountering the same conflict that you saw me face and now hear that I am facing.

The overseer then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher,

(Stop drinking just water, but use a little wine for your digestion and your frequent illnesses.)

and constant bickering by people corrupted in their minds and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a way of making a profit.

Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately.

Preach the message, be ready whether it is convenient or not, reprove, rebuke, exhort with complete patience and instruction.

When you come, bring with you the cloak I left in Troas with Carpas and the scrolls, especially the parchments.