Study Desk

So put everything evil out of your life: sexual sin, doing anything immoral, letting sinful thoughts control you, and wanting things that are wrong. And don't keep wanting more and more for yourself, which is the same as worshiping a false god.

God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So your new life should be like this: Show mercy to others. Be kind, humble, gentle, and patient.

Servants, obey your masters in everything. Obey all the time, even when they can't see you. Don't just pretend to work hard so that they will treat you well. No, you must serve your masters honestly because you respect the Lord.

The Lord's teaching has spread from you throughout Greece and beyond. In fact, your faith in God has become known everywhere, so we never have to tell anyone about it.

No, we did it because God is the one who gave us this work. And this was only after he tested us and saw that we could be trusted to do it. So when we speak, we are only trying to please God, not anyone else. He is the one who can see what is in our hearts.

We loved you very much, so we were happy to share God's Good News with you. But not only that—we were also happy to share even our own lives with you.

Brothers and sisters, I know that you remember how hard we worked. We worked night and day to support ourselves, so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we did the work of telling you God's Good News.

We could not come to you, but it was very hard to wait any longer. So we decided to send Timothy to you and stay in Athens alone. Timothy is our brother. He works with us for God to tell people the Good News about Christ. We sent Timothy to strengthen and encourage you in your faith.

We sent him so that none of you would be upset by the troubles we have now. You yourselves know that we must have these troubles.

This is why I sent Timothy to you, so that I could know about your faith. I sent him when I could not wait anymore. I was afraid that the devil who tempts people might have defeated you with temptations. Then our hard work would have been wasted.

So, brothers and sisters, we are encouraged about you because of your faith. We have much trouble and suffering, but still we are encouraged.

We have so much joy before our God because of you! So we thank God for you. But we cannot thank him enough for all the joy we feel.

So anyone who refuses to obey this teaching is refusing to obey God, not us. And God is the one who gives you his Holy Spirit.

We believe that Jesus died, but we also believe that he rose again. So we believe that God will raise to life through Jesus any who have died and bring them together with him when he comes.

So encourage each other with these words.

But you, brothers and sisters, are not living in darkness. And so that day will not surprise you like a thief.

So we should not be like other people. We should not be sleeping. We should be awake and have self-control.

But we belong to the day, so we should control ourselves. We should wear faith and love to protect us. And the hope of salvation should be our helmet.

Jesus died for us so that we can live together with him. It is not important if we are alive or dead when Jesus comes.

So encourage each other and help each other grow stronger in faith, just as you are already doing.