Study Desk

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord.

For the one who does wrong will receive back whatever wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

praying at the same time for us also, that God may open for us a door of the message, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which also I am a prisoner,

so that I may reveal it, as it is necessary for me to speak.

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how it is necessary for you to answer each one.

whom I have sent to you for this very reason, in order that you may know our circumstances and he may encourage your hearts,

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

For I testify to him that he is working hard on behalf of you and those in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis.

because our gospel did not come to you with word only, but also with power and with the Holy Spirit and with much certainty, just as you know what sort of people we became among you for your sake.

for from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything.

For they themselves report about us, what sort of welcome we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

For you yourselves know, brothers, our reception with you, that it was not in vain,

For our exhortation is not from error or from impurity or with deceit,

For never did we come with a word of flattery, just as you know, nor with a pretext of greediness (God is witness),

Longing for you in this way, we determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own souls, because you had become dear to us.

For you remember, brothers, our labor and hardship: working by night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

For you became imitators, brothers, of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus, because you also suffered the same things at the hands of your own people, just as they themselves did also at the hands of the Jews,

But when we were made orphans by separation from you, brothers, for a short time (in face, not in heart), we were even more eager with great desire to see your face,

For who is our hope or joy or crown of boasting? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming?

For you are our glory and joy.