so that no one would be shaken by these persecutions, for which you are aware that we were destined.

In fact, when we were with you, we told you ahead of time that we were going to suffer persecution. And as you know, that is what happened.

But when I could stand it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith. I was afraid that the tempter had tempted you in some way, and that our work had been a waste of time.

But Timothy has just now returned from visiting you and has told us the good news about your faith and love. He also told us that you always have fond memories of us and want to see us, just as we want to see you.

That's why, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we have been encouraged about you by your faith.

How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we have in God's presence because of you?

We pray very hard night and day that we may see you again face to face, so that we may equip you with whatever is lacking in your faith.

For it is God's will that you be sanctified: You must abstain from sexual immorality.

so that you may win the respect of outsiders, and have need of nothing.

But we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve like other people who have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so through Jesus God will bring those who have died with him.

for you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

However, brothers, you are not in the darkness, in order that the Day of the Lord might surprise you like a thief.

who died for us in order that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.

Make sure that no one pays back evil for evil. Instead, always pursue what is good for each other and for everyone else.

when he comes to be glorified by his saints and to be regarded with wonder on that day by all who have believed including you, because you believed our testimony.

With this in mind, we always pray for you, asking that our God might make you worthy of his calling and that through his power he might help you accomplish every good desire and faithful action.

That way the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified by you, and you by him, according to the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus, the Messiah.

not to be so quickly upset or alarmed when someone claims that we said, either by some spirit, conversation, or letter that the Day of the Lord has already come.

He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god and object of worship. As a result, he seats himself in the sanctuary of God and himself declares that he is God.

Don't you remember that I repeatedly told you about these things when I was still with you?

You know what it is that is now holding him back, so that he will be revealed when his time comes.

and every type of evil to deceive those who are dying, those who refused to love the truth that would save them.

For this reason, God will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie.

With this purpose in mind, he called you through our proclamation of the gospel so that you would obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah.

So then, brothers, stand firm, and cling to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.

Finally, brothers, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly, and that it may be honored the way it is among you.

Also pray that we may be rescued from worthless and evil people, since not everyone holds to the faith.

We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.

In the name of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is living in idleness and not living according to the tradition that they received from us.

It is not as though we did not have that right, but we wanted to give you an example to follow.

We hear that some of you are living in idleness. You are not busy working you are busy interfering in other people's lives!

If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of him. Have nothing to do with him so that he will feel ashamed.

When I was on my way to Macedonia, I urged you to stay in Ephesus so that you could instruct certain people to stop teaching false doctrine

and occupying themselves with myths and endless genealogies. These things promote controversies rather than God's ongoing purpose, which involves faith.

The goal of this instruction is love that flows from a pure heart, from a clear conscience, and from a sincere faith.

Of course, we know that the Law is good if a person uses it legitimately,

that is, if he understands that the Law is not intended for righteous people but for lawbreakers and rebels, for ungodly people and sinners, for those who are unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers, their mothers, or other people,

that agrees with the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

I thank the Messiah Jesus, our Lord, who gives me strength, that he has considered me faithful and has appointed me to his service.

and the grace of our Lord overflowed toward me, along with the faith and love that are in the Messiah Jesus.

This is a trustworthy saying that deserves complete acceptance: To this world Messiah came, sinful people to reclaim.

I am the worst of them. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the worst sinner, the Messiah Jesus might demonstrate all of his patience as an example for those who would believe in him for eternal life.

Timothy, my child, I am instructing you in keeping with the prophecies made earlier about you, so that by following them you may continue to fight the good fight

These include Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan so that they may learn not to blaspheme.

for kings, and for everyone who has authority, so that we might lead a quiet and peaceful life with all godliness and dignity.

He must not be a recent convert, so that he won't become arrogant and fall into the Devil's condemnation.

in case I am delayed, so that you may know how to behave in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

Now the Spirit says clearly that in the last times some people will abandon the faith by following deceitful spirits, the teachings of demons,

If you continue to point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of the Messiah Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and the healthy teaching that you have followed closely.

This is a trustworthy saying that deserves complete acceptance.

To this end we work hard and struggle, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, that is, of those who believe.

Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy when the elders laid their hands on you.

Think on these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress.

Continue to give these instructions, so that they may be blameless.

If anyone does not take care of his own relatives, especially his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

As for those who keep on sinning, rebuke them in front of everyone so that the rest will also be afraid.

In the same way, good actions are obvious, and those that are not cannot remain hidden.

All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their own masters as deserving of the highest respect, so that the name of God and our teaching may not be discredited.

and incessant conflict between people who are depraved in mind and deprived of truth. They think that godliness is a way to make a profit.

But people who want to get rich keep toppling into temptation and are trapped by many stupid and harmful desires that plunge them into destruction and ruin.

By doing this they store up a treasure for themselves that is a good foundation for the future, so that they can keep their hold on the life that is real.

From: Paul, an apostle of the Messiah Jesus by God's will in keeping with the promise of life that is in the Messiah Jesus.

recalling your tears and longing to see you so that I can be filled with joy.

I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first existed in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced that this faith also exists in you.

For this reason, I am reminding you to fan into flames the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands.

He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our own accomplishments, but according to his own purpose and the grace that was given to us in the Messiah Jesus before time began.

Now, however, that grace has been revealed through the coming of our Savior the Messiah Jesus, who has destroyed death and through the gospel has brought life and release from death into full view.

That is why I suffer as I do. However, I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I'm convinced that he is able to protect what he has entrusted to me until the day that he comes.

Hold on to the pattern of healthy teachings that you have heard from me, along with the faith and love that are in the Messiah Jesus.

With the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us, protect the good treasure that has been entrusted to you.

You know that everyone in Asia has abandoned me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

May the Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, for he often took care of me and was not ashamed that I was a prisoner.

May the Lord grant that he finds mercy on the day he comes again. You know very well how much he assisted me in Ephesus.

As for you, my child, be strong by the grace that is in the Messiah Jesus.

For that reason, I endure everything for the sake of those who have been chosen so that they, too, may receive the salvation that is in the Messiah Jesus, along with eternal glory.

Our faith may fail, his never wanes That's who he is, he cannot change!

and what they say will spread everywhere like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are like that.

They have abandoned the truth by claiming that the resurrection has already taken place, and so they destroy the faith of others.

so that they might escape from the Devil's snare, even though they've been held captive by him to do his will.

You must realize, however, that in the last days difficult times will come.

traitors, reckless, conceited, and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures that are able to give you the wisdom you need for salvation through faith in the Messiah Jesus.

so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good action.

The victor's crown of righteousness is now waiting for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on the day that he comes, and not only to me but also to all who eagerly wait for his appearing.

However, the Lord stood by me and gave me strength so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the gentiles could hear it. I was rescued out of a lion's mouth.

From: Paul, a servant of God, and also an apostle of Jesus the Messiah, to bring the faith to those chosen by God, along with full knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness,

which is based on the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began.

At the right time he revealed his message through the proclamation that was entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior.

To: Titus, a genuine child in the faith that we share. May grace and peace from God the Father and the Messiah, Jesus our Savior, be yours!

He must be devoted to the trustworthy message that agrees with what we teach, so that he may be able to encourage others with healthy doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

One of their very own prophets said, "Liars ever, men of Crete, savage brutes that live to eat."

That statement is true. For this reason, refute them sharply so that they may become healthy in the faith

Use wholesome speech that cannot be condemned. Then any opponent will be ashamed because he cannot say anything bad about us.

or steal from them. Instead, they are to show complete and perfect loyalty, so that in every way they may make the teaching about God our Savior more attractive.

It trains us to renounce ungodly living and worldly passions so that we might live sensible, honest, and godly lives in the present age

He gave himself for us to set us free from every wrong and to cleanse us so that we could be his special people who are enthusiastic about doing good deeds.

"Twas not for deeds that we had done, but by his steadfast love alone, he saved us through a second birth, renewed us by the Spirit's work,

This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have put their faith in God may devote themselves to good actions. These things are good and helpful to other people.

For you know that a person like this is corrupt and keeps on sinning, being self-condemned.