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

For we never appeared with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed – God is our witness –

For how can we thank God enough for you, for all the joy we feel because of you before our God?

and with every kind of evil deception directed against those who are perishing, because they found no place in their hearts for the truth so as to be saved.

Finally, pray for us, brothers and sisters, that the Lord’s message may spread quickly and be honored as in fact it was among you,

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

even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief,

For those who have served well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

Before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, I solemnly charge you to carry out these commands without prejudice or favoritism of any kind.

And entrust what you heard me say in the presence of many others as witnesses to faithful people who will be competent to teach others as well.

For some of these insinuate themselves into households and captivate weak women who are overwhelmed with sins and led along by various passions.

as well as the persecutions and sufferings that happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, and in Lystra. I endured these persecutions and the Lord delivered me from them all.

and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

They profess to know God but with their deeds they deny him, since they are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.

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.

However, without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness.

But to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that forsakes the living God.