Final Messages and Greetings

¹³ Keep alert; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.^(A)

¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on the evil day and, having prevailed against everything, to stand firm.^{(A) 14} Stand, therefore, and belt your waist with truth and put on the breastplate of righteousness^{(B) 15} and lace up your sandals in preparation for the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ With all of these,^[a] take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.^{(C) 17} Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.^{(D) 18} Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.^(E)

⁹ I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”^(A)

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power;

⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.^(A)

⁹ but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power^[a] is made perfect in weakness.” So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.^{(A) 10} Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.^(B)

5 ¹ For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.^(A)

¹³ I can do all things through him who strengthens me.^(A)

¹⁵ So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.^(A)