⁴ Therefore, among God’s churches we boast^(A) about your perseverance and faith^(B) in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.^(C)

³⁶ You need to persevere^(A) so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.^(B)

Patience in Suffering

⁷ Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming.^(A) See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting^(B) for the autumn and spring rains.^{(C) 8} You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming^(D) is near.^(E)

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run^(A) with perseverance^(B) the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus,^(C) the pioneer^(D) and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,^(E) scorning its shame,^(F) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.^{(G) 3} Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary^(H) and lose heart.

¹⁴ For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators^(A) of God’s churches in Judea,^(B) which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people^(C) the same things those churches suffered from the Jews

¹⁹ For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown^(A) in which we will glory^(B) in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?^(C) Is it not you?

³ We remember before our God and Father^(A) your work produced by faith,^(B) your labor prompted by love,^(C) and your endurance inspired by hope^(D) in our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁴ I had boasted to him about you,^(A) and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus^(B) has proved to be true as well.

¹² This calls for patient endurance^(A) on the part of the people of God^(B) who keep his commands^(C) and remain faithful to Jesus.