&#8220;<b><i>Honor your father and motheri>,b>&#8221;<n id="1" /> which is the first commandment accompanied by a promise, namely,

Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that everyone will see your progress.<n id="1" />

(Stop drinking just water, but use a little wine for your digestion<n id="1" /> and your frequent illnesses.)<n id="2" />

You, however, be self-controlled<n id="1" /> in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist&#8217;s work, fulfill your ministry.

So communicate these things with the sort of exhortation or rebuke<n id="1" /> that carries full authority.<n id="2" /> Don&#8217;t let anyone look down<n id="3" /> on you.p>

to Apphia<n id="1" /> our sister,<n id="2" /> to Archippus our<n id="3" /> fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house.

I pray<n id="1" /> that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing<n id="2" /> that belongs to you<n id="3" /> in Christ.<n id="4" />

I wanted to keep him so that he could serve me in your place<n id="1" /> during<n id="2" /> my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel.<n id="3" />

Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.<n id="1" />

Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because I knew that you would do even more than<n id="1" /> what I am asking you to do.

<p class="bodytext">And,p> <p class="otpoetry">&#8220;<i><b>You founded the earth in the beginningb>, <b>Lordb>,i><n id="1" />p> <p class="otpoetry"><i><b>and the heavens are the works of your handsb>.i>p>

saying, &#8220;<b><i>I will proclaim your name to my brothers;i>b><n id="1" /> <b><i>in the midst of the assembly I will praise youi>b>.&#8221;<n id="2" />

But if you fulfill the royal law as expressed in this scripture,<n id="1" /> &#8220;<b><i>You shall love your neighbor as yourselfi>b>,&#8221;<n id="2" /> you are doing well.

Dear friend, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul.<n id="1" />

For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, just as you are living according to the truth.<n id="1" />p>

They<n id="1" /> have testified to your love before the church.<n id="2" /> You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.<n id="3" />

&#8216;I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.<n id="1" /> I wish you were either cold or hot!

If<n id="1" /> your hand or your foot causes you to sin,<n id="2" /> cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have<n id="3" /> two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.

<p class="bodytext">He<n id="1" /> said also to the man<n id="2" /> who had invited him, &#8220;When you host a dinner or a banquet,<n id="3" /> don&#8217;t invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors so you can be invited by them in return and get repaid.

<p class="poetry">The<n id="1" /> nations<n id="2" /> were enraged,p> <p class="poetry">but<n id="3" /> your wrath has come,p> <p class="poetry">and the time has come for the dead to be judged,p> <p class="poetry">and the time has come to give to your servants,<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">the prophets, their reward,p> <p class="poetry">as well as to the saintsp> <p class="poetry">and to those who revere<n id="5" /> your name, both small and great,p> <p class="poetry">and the time has come<n id="6" /> to destroy those who destroy<n id="7" /> the earth.&#8221;p>