Study Desk

I am writing these things to you, though I am hoping to come to you before long;

But if I am long in coming, this will make clear to you what behaviour is right for men in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and base of what is true.

Having in mind your true faith, which first was in your mother's mother Lois, and in your mother Eunice, and, I am certain, is now in you.

And for which I undergo these things: but I have no feeling of shame. For I have knowledge of him in whom I have faith, and I am certain that he is able to keep that which I have given into his care till that day.

For I am even now being offered, and my end is near.

Being certain that you will do my desire, I am writing to you, in the knowledge that you will do even more than I say.

And make a room ready for me; for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be given to you.

For he did not make the angels rulers over the world to come, of which I am writing.

And again he says, I will put my faith in him. And again, See, I am here, and the children which God has given to me.

What more am I to say? For there would not be time to give the stories of Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets:

And the vision was so overpowering that even Moses said, I am shaking and full of fear.

Let no man say when he is tested, I am tested by God; for it is not possible for God to be tested by evil, and he himself puts no man to such a test:

Because it has been said in the Writings, You are to be holy, for I am holy.

Because it is said in the Writings, See, I am placing a keystone in Zion, of great and special value; and the man who has faith in him will not be put to shame.

I who am myself one of the rulers of the church, and a witness of the death of Christ, having my part in the coming glory, send this serious request to the chief men among you:

And it seems right to me, as long as I am in this tent of flesh, to keep your minds awake by working on your memory;

For I am conscious that in a short time I will have to put off this tent of flesh, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.

For God the Father gave him honour and glory, when such a voice came to him out of the great glory, saying, This is my dearly loved Son, with whom I am well pleased.

My loved ones, this is now my second letter to you, and in this as in the first, I am attempting to keep your true minds awake;

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may be without sin. And if any man is a sinner, we have a friend and helper with the Father, Jesus Christ, the upright one: