¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers and sisters, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them.^(A)

² proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage with the utmost patience in teaching.^(A)

Warning against Idleness

⁶ Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother or sister living irresponsibly and not according to the tradition that they^[a] received from us.^{(A) 7} For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not irresponsible when we were with you,^(B)

Do Not Judge Another

14 Welcome those who are weak in faith^[a] but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions.^(A)

¹¹ For we hear that some of you are living irresponsibly, mere busybodies, not doing any work.^{(A) 12} Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.^{(B) 13} Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.

³⁵ In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”^(A)

²⁴ And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient,^{(A) 25} correcting opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth^(B)

The Good Fight of Faith

¹¹ But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.

⁷ though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle^[a] among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. ⁸ So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.

⁹ You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.^{(A) 10} You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers.^{(B) 11} As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, ¹² urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.^(C)

²⁸ It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.^[a](A)