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

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

complete my joy and be of the same mind, by having the same love, being united in spirit, and having one purpose.

Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh!

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

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in any circumstance.

since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints.

Toward this goal I also labor, struggling according to his power that powerfully works in me.

Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,

Disarming the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Masters, treat your slaves with justice and fairness, because you know that you also have a master in heaven.

As a result you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others,

You are witnesses, and so is God, as to how holy and righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you who believe.

So in all our distress and affliction, we were reassured about you, brothers and sisters, through your faith.

For God did not destine us for wrath but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, just as you are in fact doing.

For it is right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,

And so all of them who have not believed the truth but have delighted in evil will be condemned.

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.