Study Desk

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?

if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.

and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.

I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.

So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

"And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. "‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.

"And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.