Study Desk

So we tell the other churches of God how proud we are of you. We tell them how you patiently continue to be strong and have faith, even though you are being persecuted and are suffering many troubles.

And you know what is stopping that Man of Evil now. He is being stopped now so that he will appear at the right time.

So God will send them something powerful that leads them away from the truth and causes them to believe a lie.

God chose you to have that salvation. He chose you by using the Good News that we told you. You were chosen so that you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So, brothers and sisters, stand strong and continue to believe the teachings we gave you when we were there and by letter.

We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked and worked so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We worked night and day.

We had the right to ask you to help us. But we worked to take care of ourselves so that we would be an example for you to follow.

But I was given mercy so that in me Christ Jesus could show that he has patience without limit. Christ showed his patience with me, the worst of all sinners. He wanted me to be an example for those who would believe in him and have eternal life.

Hymenaeus and Alexander are men like that. I have given them to Satan so that they will learn not to speak against God.

You should pray for rulers and for all who have authority. Pray for these leaders so that we can live quiet and peaceful lives—lives full of devotion to God and respect for him.

so that, even if I cannot come soon, you will know how people should live in the family of God. That family is the church of the living God. And God's church is the support and foundation of the truth.

Tell the believers there to take care of their family so that no one can say they are doing wrong.

So I want the younger widows to marry, have children, and take care of their homes. If they do this, our enemy will not have any reason to criticize them.

Tell those who sin that they are wrong. Do this in front of the whole church so that the others will have a warning.

Timothy, stop drinking only water, and drink a little wine. This will help your stomach, and you will not be sick so often.

Some slaves have masters who are believers, so they are brothers. Does this mean they should show their masters any less respect? No, they should serve them even better, because they are helping believers, people they should love. This is what you must teach and tell everyone to do.

So, if we have food and clothes, we will be satisfied with that.

But you belong to God. So you should stay away from all those things. Always try to do what is right, to be devoted to God, and to have faith, love, patience, and gentleness.

We have to fight to keep our faith. Try as hard as you can to win that fight. Take hold of eternal life. It is the life you were chosen to have when you confessed your faith in Jesus—that wonderful truth that you spoke so openly and that so many people heard.

God is the only one who never dies. He lives in light so bright that people cannot go near it. No one has ever seen him; no one is able to see him. All honor and power belong to him forever. Amen.