Preach the Word

4 ^(A)I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to ^(B)judge the living and the dead, and by His ^(C)appearing and His kingdom: ² preach ^(D)the word; be ready ^[a]in season and out of season; ^(E)correct, rebuke, and ^[b]exhort, with ^[c]great ^(F)patience and instruction. ³ For ^(G)the time will come when they will not tolerate ^(H)sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, ⁴ and they ^(I)will turn their ears away from the truth and ^(J)will turn aside to myths. ⁵ But as for you, ^(K)use self-restraint in all things, ^(L)endure hardship, do the work of an ^(M)evangelist, fulfill your ^(N)ministry.

¹⁴ How then are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? How are they to believe in Him ^(A)whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without ^(B)a preacher? ¹⁵ But how are they to preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written: “^(C)How beautiful are the feet of those who ^[a](D)bring good news of good things!”

¹⁶ However, they ^(E)did not all heed the ^[b]good news; for Isaiah says, “^(F)Lord, who has believed our report?” ¹⁷ So faith comes from ^(G)hearing, and hearing by ^(H)the word ^[c]of Christ.

^13 (A)Until I come, give your attention to the public ^[a](B)reading, to exhortation, and teaching.

A Call to Prayer

2 First of all, then, I urge that ^(A)requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made in behalf of all people, ^2 (B)for kings and all who are in ^[a]authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and ^[b]dignity. ³ This is good and acceptable in the sight of ^(C)God our Savior,

¹⁸ And ^(A)do not get drunk with wine, ^[a]in which there is ^(B)debauchery, but be ^(C)filled with the Spirit, ^19 (D)speaking to ^[b]one another in ^(E)psalms and ^(F)hymns and spiritual ^(G)songs, ^(H)singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; ^20 (I)always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our ^(J)God and Father; ^21 [c](K)and subject yourselves to one another in the ^[d](L)fear of Christ.