⁷ and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.

The Sin and Doom of Ungodly People

³ Dear friends,^(A) although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share,^(B) I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend^(C) for the faith^(D) that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.^(E)

⁴ It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth,^(A) just as the Father commanded us.

¹⁷ Elijah was a human being, even as we are.^(A) He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.^(B)

⁹ Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.^{(A) 10} Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.^(B)

Warning to Pay Attention

2 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.^(A)

⁸ For now we really live, since you are standing firm^(A) in the Lord.

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

⁶ But Timothy^(A) has just now come to us from you^(B) and has brought good news about your faith and love.^(C) He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.^(D)

⁵ For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit^(A) and delight to see how disciplined^(B) you are and how firm^(C) your faith in Christ^(D) is.

²⁰ I eagerly expect^(A) and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage^(B) so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body,^(C) whether by life or by death.^(D)