⁷ Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you^[a]—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.^[b](A)

⁵ For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with excellence, and excellence with knowledge,^{(A) 6} and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, ⁷ and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. ⁸ For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.^(B)

Thanksgiving

³ We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.^(A)

⁸ And God is able to provide you with every blessing^[a] in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.^(A)

⁹ And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight^(A)