Study Desk

So I ask you not to become discouraged because of the sufferings I am having for you. My sufferings are for your glory.

I am in prison because I belong to the Lord. Therefore I urge you who have been chosen by God to live up to the life to which God called you.

That secret is very important—I am talking about Christ and the church.

I have been sent to preach this Good News, and I am doing that now, here in prison. Pray that when I preach the Good News I will speak without fear, as I should.

I am sending to you Tychicus, our brother whom we love and a faithful servant of the Lord's work. He will tell you everything that is happening with me. Then you will know how I am and what I am doing.

I am sending him to you for this reason—so that you will know how we are, and he can encourage you.

God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.

And I know that I am right to think like this about all of you, because I have you in my heart. All of you share in God's grace with me while I am in prison and while I am defending and proving the truth of the Good News.

All the palace guards and everyone else knows that I am in prison because I am a believer in Christ.

Because I am in prison, most of the believers have become more bold in Christ and are not afraid to speak the word of God.

But it doesn't matter. The important thing is that in every way, whether for right or wrong reasons, they are preaching about Christ. So I am happy, and I will continue to be happy.

Since I am sure of this, I know I will stay with you to help you grow and have joy in your faith.

You will be very happy in Christ Jesus when I am with you again.

Only one thing concerns me: Be sure that you live in a way that brings honor to the Good News of Christ. Then whether I come and visit you or am away from you, I will hear that you are standing strong with one purpose, that you work together as one for the faith of the Good News,

When I was with you, you saw the struggles I had, and you hear about the struggles I am having now. You yourselves are having the same kind of struggles.

My dear friends, you have always obeyed God when I was with you. It is even more important that you obey now while I am away from you. Keep on working to complete your salvation with fear and trembling,

I am sure that the Lord will help me to come to you soon.

I was circumcised eight days after my birth. I am from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin. I am a Hebrew, and my parents were Hebrews. I had a strict view of the law, which is why I became a Pharisee.

and to belong to him. Now I am right with God, not because I followed the law, but because I believed in Christ. God uses my faith to make me right with him.

I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal, but I continue trying to reach it and to make it mine. Christ wants me to do that, which is the reason he made me his.