Study Desk

But his quality is clear to you; how, as a child is to its father, so he was a help to me in the work of the good news.

For in fact he was ill almost to death: but God had mercy on him; and not only on him but on me, so that I might not have grief on grief.

I have sent him, then, the more gladly, so that when you see him again, you may be happy and I may have the less sorrow.

So take him to your hearts in the Lord with all joy, and give honour to such as he is:

Yes truly, and I am ready to give up all things for the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, which is more than all: for whom I have undergone the loss of all things, and to me they are less than nothing, so that I may have Christ as my reward,

For there are those, of whom I have given you word before, and do so now with sorrow, who are haters of the cross of Christ;

So my brothers, well loved and very dear to me, my joy and crown, be strong in the Lord, my loved ones.

Now to God our Father be glory for ever and ever. So be it.

Full of strength in the measure of the great power of his glory, so that you may undergo all troubles with joy;

And he is the head of the body, the church: the starting point of all things, the first to come again from the dead; so that in all things he might have the chief place.

In the body of his flesh through death, so that you might be holy and without sin and free from all evil before him:

Whom we are preaching; guiding and teaching every man in all wisdom, so that every man may be complete in Christ;

So that their hearts may be comforted, and that being joined together in love, they may come to the full wealth of the certain knowledge of the secret of God, even Christ,

I say this so that you may not be turned away by any deceit of words.

As, then, you took Christ Jesus the Lord, so go on in him,

Fathers, do not be hard on your children, so that their spirit may not be broken.

So that I may make it clear, as it is right for me to do.

Let your talk be with grace, mixed with salt, so that you may be able to give an answer to everyone.

And I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may have news of how we are, and so that he may give your hearts comfort;

Because our good news came to you, not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Spirit, so that you were completely certain of it; even as you saw what our behaviour to you was like from our love to you.