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.^(A)

² He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes^[a] to make it bear more fruit.

¹⁴ And let people learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet urgent needs, so that they may not be unproductive.

¹⁶ Let the word of Christ^[a] dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.^[b](A)

² May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

¹² so that you may not become sluggish but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.^(A)

⁶ I pray that the partnership of your faith may become effective as you comprehend all the good that we^[a] share in Christ.^[b]

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

⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.^(A)

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)