Study Desk

Here is what love is: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the kapparah for our sins.

No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God remains united with us, and our love for him has been brought to its goal in us.

Also we have come to know and trust the love that God has for us. God is love; and those who remain in this love remain united with God, and God remains united with them.

Here is how love has been brought to maturity with us: as the Messiah is, so are we in the world. This gives us confidence for the Day of Judgment.

If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar. For if a person does not love his brother, whom he has seen, then he cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

For loving God means obeying his commands. Moreover, his commands are not burdensome,

If anyone sees his brother committing a sin that does not lead to death, he will ask; and God will give him life for those whose sinning does not lead to death. There is sin that does lead to death; I am not saying he should pray about that.

And now, dear lady, I am requesting that we love one another — not as if this were a new command I am writing you, for it is the one which we have had from the beginning.

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not acknowledge Yeshua the Messiah's coming as a human being. Such a person is a deceiver and an anti-Messiah.

Watch yourselves, so that you won't lose what you have worked for, but will receive your full reward.

for the person who says, "Shalom!" to him shares in his evil deeds.

For I was so happy when some brothers came and testified how faithful you are to the truth, as you continue living in the truth.

Dear friend, you are faithful in all the work you are doing for the brothers, even when they are strangers to you.

since it was for the sake of HaShem that they went out without accepting anything from the Goyim.

It is we, therefore, who should support such people; so that we may share in their work for the truth.

So if I come, I will bring up everything he is doing, including his spiteful and groundless gossip about us. And as if that weren't enough for him, he refuses to recognize the brothers' authority either; moreover, he stops those who want to do so and tries to drive them out of the congregation!

Everyone speaks well of Demetrius, and so does the truth itself. We vouch for him, and you know that our testimony is true.

From: The Elder To: Dear Gaius, whom I love in truth: Dear friend, I am praying that everything prosper with you and that you be in good health, as I know you are prospering spiritually. For I was so happy when some brothers came and testified how faithful you are to the truth, as you continue living in the truth. Nothing gives me greater joy than hearing that my children are living in the truth. Dear friend, you are faithful in all the work you are doing for the brothers, even when they are strangers to you. They have testified to your love in front of the congregation. You will be doing well if you send them on their way in a manner worthy of God, since it was for the sake of HaShem that they went out without accepting anything from the Goyim. It is we, therefore, who should support such people; so that we may share in their work for the truth. I wrote something to the congregation; but Diotrephes, who likes to be the macher among them, doesn't recognize our authority. So if I come, I will bring up everything he is doing, including his spiteful and groundless gossip about us. And as if that weren't enough for him, he refuses to recognize the brothers' authority either; moreover, he stops those who want to do so and tries to drive them out of the congregation! Dear friend, don't imitate the bad, but the good. Those who do what is good are from God; those who do what is bad are not from God. Everyone speaks well of Demetrius, and so does the truth itself. We vouch for him, and you know that our testimony is true. I have much to write you, but I don't want to write with pen and ink; however, I am hoping to see you very soon, and we will speak face to face. Shalom to you. Your friends send you their greetings. Greet each of our friends by name.

From: Y'hudah, a slave of Yeshua the Messiah and a brother of Ya‘akov To: Those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept for Yeshua the Messiah:

Dear friends, I was busily at work writing to you about the salvation we share, when I found it necessary to write, urging you to keep contending earnestly for the faith which was once and for all passed on to God's people.