Study Desk

For the secret of evil is even now at work: but there is one who is keeping back the evil till he is taken out of the way.

And for this cause, God will give them up to the power of deceit and they will put their faith in what is false:

But it is right for us to give praise to God at all times for you, brothers, loved by the Lord, because it was the purpose of God from the first that you might have salvation, being made holy by the Spirit and by faith in what is true:

Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father who had love for us and has given us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,

For the rest, my brothers, let there be prayer for us that the word of the Lord may go forward with increasing glory, even as it does with you;

And that we may be made free from foolish and evil men; for not all have faith.

And may your hearts be guided by the Lord into the love of God and quiet waiting for Christ.

For you yourselves are used to taking us as your example, because our life among you was ruled by order,

And we did not take food from any man for nothing, but were working hard night and day not to be a trouble to any of you:

For even when we were with you we gave you orders, saying, If any man does no work, let him not have food.

For it has come to our ears that there are some among you whose behaviour is uncontrolled, who do no work at all, but are over-interested in the business of others.

Have no feeling of hate for him, but take him in hand seriously as a brother.

With the knowledge that the law is made, not for the upright man, but for those who have no respect for law and order, for evil men and sinners, for the unholy and those who have no religion, for those who put their fathers or mothers to death, for takers of life,

For those who go after loose women, for those with unnatural desires, for those who take men prisoners, who make false statements and false oaths, and those who do any other things against the right teaching,

But for this reason I was given mercy, so that in me, the chief of sinners, Jesus Christ might make clear all his mercy, as an example to those who in the future would have faith in him to eternal life.

Now to the King eternal, ever-living, unseen, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. So be it.

Keeping faith, and being conscious of well-doing; for some, by not doing these things, have gone wrong in relation to the faith:

My desire is, first of all, that you will make requests and prayers and give praise for all men;

For kings and all those in authority; so that we may have a calm and quiet life in all fear of God and serious behaviour.

For there is one God and one peacemaker between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,