Study Desk

Our friends, we must thank God at all times for you. It is right for us to do so, because your faith is growing so much and the love each of you has for the others is becoming greater.

All of this proves that God's judgment is just and as a result you will become worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering.

That is why we always pray for you. We ask our God to make you worthy of the life he has called you to live. May he fulfill by his power all your desire for goodness and complete your work of faith.

Do not let anyone deceive you in any way. For the Day will not come until the final Rebellion takes place and the Wicked One appears, who is destined to hell.

We must thank God at all times for you, friends, you whom the Lord loves. For God chose you as the first to be saved by the Spirit's power to make you his holy people and by your faith in the truth.

Finally, our friends, pray for us that the Lord's message may continue to spread rapidly and be received with honor, just as it was among you.

Pray also that God will rescue us from wicked and evil people; for not everyone believes the message.

We did not accept anyone's support without paying for it. Instead, we worked and toiled; we kept working day and night so as not to be an expense to any of you.

We did this, not because we do not have the right to demand our support; we did it to be an example for you to follow.

It must be remembered, of course, that laws are made, not for good people, but for lawbreakers and criminals, for the godless and sinful, for those who are not religious or spiritual, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,

for the immoral, for sexual perverts, for kidnappers, for those who lie and give false testimony or who do anything else contrary to sound doctrine.

I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength for my work. I thank him for considering me worthy and appointing me to serve him,

but God was merciful to me in order that Christ Jesus might show his full patience in dealing with me, the worst of sinners, as an example for all those who would later believe in him and receive eternal life.

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, requests, and thanksgivings be offered to God for all people;

for kings and all others who are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceful life with all reverence toward God and with proper conduct.

For there is one God, and there is one who brings God and human beings together, the man Christ Jesus,

but with good deeds, as is proper for women who claim to be religious.

For Adam was created first, and then Eve.

For if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of the church of God?

Church helpers must also have a good character and be sincere; they must not drink too much wine or be greedy for money;