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

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 let those of us who are “perfect” embrace this point of view. If you think otherwise, God will reveal to you the error of your ways.

Be imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and watch carefully those who are living this way, just as you have us as an example.

But our citizenship is in heaven – and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

to the saints, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ, at Colossae. Grace and peace to you from God our Father!

rooted and built up in him and firm in your faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

and you have been filled in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.

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

For we wanted to come to you (I, Paul, in fact tried again and again) but Satan thwarted us.

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.

From Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold on to the traditions that we taught you, whether by speech or by letter.

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

From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

to Timothy, my genuine child in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord!

nor to occupy themselves with myths and interminable genealogies. Such things promote useless speculations rather than God’s redemptive plan that operates by faith.