Study Desk

and pray for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison,

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

and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.

For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in La-odice'a and in Hi-erap'olis.

We give thanks to God always for you all, constantly mentioning you in our prayers,

For we know, brethren beloved by God, that he has chosen you;

for our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit;

For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedo'nia and Acha'ia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.

For they themselves report concerning us what a welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God,

and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

For you yourselves know, brethren, that our visit to you was not in vain;

For our appeal does not spring from error or uncleanness, nor is it made with guile;

For we never used either words of flattery, as you know, or a cloak for greed, as God is witness;

For you remember our labor and toil, brethren; we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you, while we preached to you the gospel of God.

for you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus which are in Judea; for you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,

But since we were bereft of you, brethren, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face;

For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?