Final Instructions

¹² Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard^(A) among you, who care for you in the Lord^(B) and who admonish you. ¹³ Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.^{(C) 14} And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle^(D) and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak,^(E) be patient with everyone. ¹⁵ Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong,^(F) but always strive to do what is good for each other^(G) and for everyone else.

¹⁶ Rejoice always,^{(H) 17} pray continually,^{(I) 18} give thanks in all circumstances;^(J) for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit.^{(K) 20} Do not treat prophecies^(L) with contempt ²¹ but test them all;^(M) hold on to what is good,^{(N) 22} reject every kind of evil.

²³ May God himself, the God of peace,^(O) sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul^(P) and body be kept blameless^(Q) at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(R) 24} The one who calls^(S) you is faithful,^(T) and he will do it.^(U)

²⁵ Brothers and sisters, pray for us.^{(V) 26} Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss.^{(W) 27} I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.^(X)

²⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.^(Y)

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

¹⁵ “If you love me, keep my commands.^{(A) 16} And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate^(B) to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth.^(C) The world cannot accept him,^(D) because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be^[a] in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans;^(E) I will come to you.^{(F) 19} Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me.^(G) Because I live, you also will live.^{(H) 20} On that day^(I) you will realize that I am in my Father,^(J) and you are in me, and I am in you.^{(K) 21} Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.^(L) The one who loves me will be loved by my Father,^(M) and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

²² Then Judas^(N) (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”^(O)

²³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.^(P) My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.^{(Q) 24} Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.^(R)

²⁵ “All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶ But the Advocate,^(S) the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,^(T) will teach you all things^(U) and will remind you of everything I have said to you.^{(V) 27} Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.^(W) I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled^(X) and do not be afraid.