¹¹ as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and ^[a]charged every one of you, as a father does his own children,

Paul’s Paternal Care

¹⁴ I do not write these things to shame you, but ^(A)as my beloved children I warn you. ¹⁵ For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for ^(B)in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

²² And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words.

Preach the Word

4 I ^(A)charge you ^[a]therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, ^(B)who will judge the living and the dead ^[b]at His appearing and His kingdom: ² Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. ^(C)Convince, ^(D)rebuke, ^(E)exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

²¹ I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the ^[a]elect angels that you observe these things without ^(A)prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.

¹² Now those who are such we command and ^[a]exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ ^(A)that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

¹¹ Therefore ^[a]comfort each other and ^[b]edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Plea for Purity

4 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus ^(A)that you should abound more and more, ^(B)just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;

⁷ But ^(A)we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

²⁰ And David said to his son Solomon, ^(A)“Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God—my God—will be with you. ^(B)He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.