Colossians 1 - 1 Timothy 1

English Standard Version

Greeting

1 Paul, ^(A)an apostle of Christ Jesus ^(B)by the will of God, and Timothy ^(C)our brother,

² To the ^(D)saints and faithful brothers^[a] in Christ at Colossae:

^(E)Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

^3 (F)We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴ since we heard of ^(G)your faith in Christ Jesus and of ^(H)the love that you have for all the saints, ⁵ because of ^(I)the hope ^(J)laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in ^(K)the word of the truth, the gospel, ⁶ which has come to you, as indeed ^(L)in the whole world it is ^(M)bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you ^(N)heard it and understood ^(O)the grace of God in truth, ⁷ just as you learned it from ^(P)Epaphras our beloved ^(Q)fellow servant.^[b] He is ^(R)a faithful minister of Christ on your^[c] behalf ⁸ and has made known to us your ^(S)love in the Spirit.

⁹ And so, ^(T)from the day we heard, ^(U)we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that ^(V)you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all ^(W)spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰ so as ^(X)to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, ^(Y)fully pleasing to him: ^(Z)bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; ^11 (AA)being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for ^(AB)all endurance and patience ^(AC)with joy; ^12 (AD)giving thanks^[d] to the Father, who has qualified you^[e] to share in ^(AE)the inheritance of the saints in light. ¹³ He ^(AF)has delivered us from ^(AG)the domain of darkness and transferred us to ^(AH)the kingdom of ^(AI)his beloved Son, ^14 (AJ)in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The Preeminence of Christ

^15 (AK)He is the image of ^(AL)the invisible God, ^(AM)the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For by^[f] him all things were created, ^(AN)in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether ^(AO)thrones or ^(AP)dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created ^(AQ)through him and for him. ¹⁷ And ^(AR)he is before all things, and in him all things ^(AS)hold together. ¹⁸ And ^(AT)he is the head of the body, the church. He is ^(AU)the beginning, ^(AV)the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. ¹⁹ For ^(AW)in him all the ^(AX)fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and ^(AY)through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, ^(AZ)making peace ^(BA)by the blood of his cross.

^21 (BB)And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, ^(BC)doing evil deeds, ²² he has now reconciled ^(BD)in his body of flesh by his death, ^(BE)in order to present you holy and blameless and ^(BF)above reproach before him, ^23 (BG)if indeed you continue in the faith, ^(BH)stable and steadfast, not shifting from ^(BI)the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed ^(BJ)in all creation^[g] under heaven, ^(BK)and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Paul's Ministry to the Church

²⁴ Now ^(BL)I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh ^(BM)I am filling up ^(BN)what is lacking in Christ's afflictions ^(BO)for the sake of his body, that is, the church, ^25 (BP)of which I became a minister according to ^(BQ)the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, ^26 (BR)the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. ^27 (BS)To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are ^(BT)the riches of the glory of ^(BU)this mystery, which is Christ in you, ^(BV)the hope of glory. ²⁸ Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that ^(BW)we may present everyone ^(BX)mature in Christ. ²⁹ For this ^(BY)I toil, ^(BZ)struggling ^(CA)with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

2 For I want you to know ^(CB)how great a ^(CC)struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, ² that ^(CD)their hearts may be encouraged, being ^(CE)knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of ^(CF)God's mystery, which is Christ, ^3 (CG)in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴ I say this in order ^(CH)that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. ⁵ For ^(CI)though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your ^(CJ)good order and ^(CK)the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Alive in Christ

^6 (CL)Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, ^7 (CM)rooted and ^(CN)built up in him and ^(CO)established in the faith, just ^(CP)as you were taught, abounding ^(CQ)in thanksgiving.

⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive by ^(CR)philosophy and ^(CS)empty deceit, according to ^(CT)human tradition, according to the ^(CU)elemental spirits^[h] of the world, and not according to Christ. ⁹ For ^(CV)in him the whole fullness of deity dwells ^(CW)bodily, ¹⁰ and ^(CX)you have been filled in him, who is ^(CY)the head of all rule and authority. ¹¹ In him also ^(CZ)you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by ^(DA)putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ^12 (DB)having been buried with him in baptism, in which ^(DC)you were also raised with him through faith in ^(DD)the powerful working of God, ^(DE)who raised him from the dead. ^13 (DF)And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God ^(DG)made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, ¹⁴ by ^(DH)canceling ^(DI)the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. ^15 (DJ)He disarmed the rulers and authorities^[i] and ^(DK)put them to open shame, by ^(DL)triumphing over them in him.^[j]

Let No One Disqualify You

¹⁶ Therefore let no one ^(DM)pass judgment on you ^(DN)in questions of food and drink, or with regard to ^(DO)a festival or ^(DP)a new moon or a Sabbath. ^17 (DQ)These are a shadow of the things to come, but ^(DR)the substance belongs to Christ. ¹⁸ Let no one ^(DS)disqualify you, ^(DT)insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, ^(DU)going on in detail about visions,^{[k] (DV)}puffed up without reason by ^(DW)his sensuous mind, ¹⁹ and ^(DX)not ^(DY)holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

²⁰ If with Christ ^(DZ)you died to the ^(EA)elemental spirits of the world, ^(EB)why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— ^21 (EC)“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” ²² (^(ED)referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to ^(EE)human precepts and teachings? ²³ These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in ^(EF)promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are ^(EG)of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Put On the New Self

3 ^(EH)If then you have been raised with Christ, seek ^(EI)the things that are above, where Christ is, ^(EJ)seated at the right hand of God. ^2 (EK)Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³ For ^(EL)you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ ^(EM)who is your^[l] life ^(EN)appears, then you also will appear with him ^(EO)in glory.

^5 (EP)Put to death therefore ^(EQ)what is earthly in you:^{[m] (ER)}sexual immorality, impurity, ^(ES)passion, evil desire, and covetousness, ^(ET)which is idolatry. ^6 (EU)On account of these the wrath of God is coming.^{[n] 7 (EV)}In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. ⁸ But now ^(EW)you must put them all away: ^(EX)anger, wrath, malice, ^(EY)slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. ^9 (EZ)Do not lie to one another, seeing that ^(FA)you have put off ^(FB)the old self^[o] with its practices ¹⁰ and ^(FC)have put on ^(FD)the new self, ^(FE)which is being renewed in knowledge ^(FF)after the image of ^(FG)its creator. ^11 (FH)Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,^[p] free; but Christ is ^(FI)all, and in all.

^12 (FJ)Put on then, as ^(FK)God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, ^(FL)compassionate hearts, ^(FM)kindness, ^(FN)humility, meekness, and patience, ^13 (FO)bearing with one another and, ^(FP)if one has a complaint against another, ^(FQ)forgiving each other; ^(FR)as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴ And above all these put on ^(FS)love, which ^(FT)binds everything together in ^(FU)perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let ^(FV)the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called ^(FW)in one body. And ^(FX)be thankful. ¹⁶ Let ^(FY)the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, ^(FZ)singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, ^(GA)with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And ^(GB)whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, ^(GC)giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Rules for Christian Households

^18 (GD)Wives, submit to your husbands, as ^(GE)is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives, and ^(GF)do not be harsh with them. ²⁰ Children, obey your parents ^(GG)in everything, for this pleases the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. ²² Bondservants, obey ^(GH)in everything those who are your earthly masters,^[q] not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. ^23 (GI)Whatever you do, work heartily, ^(GJ)as for the Lord and not for men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord ^(GK)you will receive the inheritance as your reward. ^(GL)You are serving the Lord Christ. ²⁵ For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

4 Masters, treat your bondservants^[r] justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

^2 (GM)Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it ^(GN)with thanksgiving. ³ At the same time, pray also for us, that God may ^(GO)open to us a door for the word, ^(GP)to declare the mystery of Christ, ^(GQ)on account of which I am in prison— ⁴ that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

^5 (GR)Walk in wisdom toward ^(GS)outsiders, making the best use of the time. ⁶ Let your speech always ^(GT)be gracious, ^(GU)seasoned with salt, ^(GV)so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Final Greetings

⁷ Tychicus will tell you ^(GW)all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant^[s] in the Lord. ⁸ I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, ⁹ and with him ^(GX)Onesimus, our faithful and ^(GY)beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

^10 (GZ)Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark ^(HA)the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—^(HB)if he comes to you, welcome him), ¹¹ and Jesus who is called ^(HC)Justus. ^(HD)These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and ^(HE)they have been a comfort to me. ^12 (HF)Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always ^(HG)struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand ^(HH)mature and fully assured in all the will of God. ¹³ For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. ^14 (HI)Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does ^(HJ)Demas. ¹⁵ Give my greetings to the brothers^[t] at Laodicea, and to Nympha and ^(HK)the church in her house. ¹⁶ And when ^(HL)this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. ¹⁷ And say to ^(HM)Archippus, “See that you fulfill ^(HN)the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

¹⁸ I, Paul, ^(HO)write this greeting with my own hand. ^(HP)Remember ^(HQ)my chains. ^(HR)Grace be with you.

Greeting

1 Paul, ^(HS)Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the ^(HT)Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

^(HU)Grace to you and peace.

The Thessalonians' Faith and Example

^2 (HV)We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly^{[u] (HW)}mentioning you in our prayers, ³ remembering before ^(HX)our God and Father ^(HY)your work of faith and labor of ^(HZ)love and ^(IA)steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴ For we know, ^(IB)brothers^[v] loved by God, ^(IC)that he has chosen you, ⁵ because ^(ID)our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and ^(IE)in the Holy Spirit and with full ^(IF)conviction. You know ^(IG)what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. ⁶ And ^(IH)you became imitators of us ^(II)and of the Lord, for ^(IJ)you received the word in much affliction, ^(IK)with the ^(IL)joy of the Holy Spirit, ⁷ so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. ⁸ For not only has the word of the Lord ^(IM)sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth ^(IN)everywhere, so that we need not say anything. ⁹ For they themselves report concerning us the kind of ^(IO)reception we had among you, and how ^(IP)you turned to God ^(IQ)from idols to serve the living and ^(IR)true God, ¹⁰ and ^(IS)to wait for his Son ^(IT)from heaven, ^(IU)whom he raised from the dead, Jesus ^(IV)who delivers us from ^(IW)the wrath to come.

Paul's Ministry to the Thessalonians

2 For you yourselves know, brothers,^[w] that our ^(IX)coming to you ^(IY)was not in vain. ² But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated ^(IZ)at Philippi, as you know, ^(JA)we had boldness in our God ^(JB)to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much ^(JC)conflict. ³ For ^(JD)our appeal does not spring from ^(JE)error or ^(JF)impurity or ^(JG)any attempt to deceive, ⁴ but just as we have been approved by God ^(JH)to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not ^(JI)to please man, but to please God ^(JJ)who tests our hearts. ^5 (JK)For we never came with words of flattery,^[x] as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—^(JL)God is witness. ^6 (JM)Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, ^(JN)though we could have made ^(JO)demands as ^(JP)apostles of Christ. ⁷ But we were ^(JQ)gentle^[y] among you, ^(JR)like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. ⁸ So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God ^(JS)but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

⁹ For you remember, brothers, ^(JT)our labor and toil: we ^(JU)worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. ¹⁰ You are witnesses, and ^(JV)God also, ^(JW)how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. ¹¹ For you know how, ^(JX)like a father with his children, ¹² we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and ^(JY)charged ^(JZ)you to walk in a manner worthy of God, ^(KA)who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

¹³ And ^(KB)we also thank God constantly^[z] for this, that when you received ^(KC)the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it ^(KD)not as the word of men^[aa] but as what it really is, the word of God, ^(KE)which is at work in you believers. ¹⁴ For you, brothers, ^(KF)became imitators of ^(KG)the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For ^(KH)you suffered the same things from your own countrymen ^(KI)as they did from the Jews,^{[ab] 15 (KJ)}who killed both the Lord Jesus and ^(KK)the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and ^(KL)oppose all mankind ^16 (KM)by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always ^(KN)to fill up the measure of their sins. But ^(KO)wrath has come upon them at last!^[ac]

Paul's Longing to See Them Again

¹⁷ But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, ^(KP)in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire ^(KQ)to see you face to face, ¹⁸ because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan ^(KR)hindered us. ¹⁹ For what is our hope or ^(KS)joy or crown of boasting ^(KT)before our Lord Jesus at his ^(KU)coming? Is it not you? ²⁰ For you are our glory and joy.

3 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing ^(KV)to be left behind at Athens alone, ² and we ^(KW)sent Timothy, ^(KX)our brother and God's coworker^[ad] in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, ³ that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that ^(KY)we are destined for this. ⁴ For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, ^(KZ)just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. ⁵ For this reason, ^(LA)when I could bear it no longer, ^(LB)I sent to learn about your faith, ^(LC)for fear that somehow ^(LD)the tempter had tempted you and ^(LE)our labor would be in vain.

Timothy's Encouraging Report

⁶ But ^(LF)now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of ^(LG)your faith and love and reported ^(LH)that you always remember us kindly and ^(LI)long to see us, as we long to see you— ⁷ for this reason, brothers,^[ae] in all our distress and affliction ^(LJ)we have been comforted about you through your faith. ⁸ For now we live, if you ^(LK)are standing fast in the Lord. ⁹ For ^(LL)what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, ¹⁰ as we pray most earnestly ^(LM)night and day ^(LN)that we may see you face to face and ^(LO)supply what is lacking in your faith?

¹¹ Now may ^(LP)our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, ^(LQ)direct our way to you, ¹² and may the Lord ^(LR)make you increase and abound in love ^(LS)for one another and for all, as we do for you, ¹³ so that he may ^(LT)establish your hearts blameless in holiness before ^(LU)our God and Father, at ^(LV)the coming of our Lord Jesus ^(LW)with all his saints.

A Life Pleasing to God

4 Finally, then, brothers,^[af] we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you ^(LX)received from us ^(LY)how you ought to walk and ^(LZ)to please God, just as you are doing, that you ^(MA)do so more and more. ² For ^(MB)you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. ³ For this is the will of God, ^(MC)your sanctification:^{[ag] (MD)}that you abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴ that each one of you know how to control his own ^(ME)body^[ah] in holiness and ^(MF)honor, ⁵ not in ^(MG)the passion of lust ^(MH)like the Gentiles ^(MI)who do not know God; ⁶ that no one transgress and ^(MJ)wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is ^(MK)an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. ⁷ For ^(ML)God has not called us for ^(MM)impurity, but in holiness. ⁸ Therefore ^(MN)whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, ^(MO)who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

⁹ Now concerning ^(MP)brotherly love ^(MQ)you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been ^(MR)taught by God ^(MS)to love one another, ¹⁰ for that indeed is what ^(MT)you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to ^(MU)do this more and more, ¹¹ and to aspire ^(MV)to live quietly, and ^(MW)to mind your own affairs, and ^(MX)to work with your hands, as we instructed you, ¹² so that you may ^(MY)walk properly before ^(MZ)outsiders and be dependent on no one.

The Coming of the Lord

¹³ But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, ^(NA)that you may not grieve as others do ^(NB)who have no hope. ¹⁴ For ^(NC)since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him ^(ND)those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁵ For this we declare to you ^(NE)by a word from the Lord,^[ai] that ^(NF)we who are alive, who are left until ^(NG)the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For ^(NH)the Lord himself will descend ^(NI)from heaven ^(NJ)with a cry of command, with the voice of ^(NK)an archangel, and ^(NL)with the sound of the trumpet of God. And ^(NM)the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive, who are left, will be ^(NN)caught up together with them ^(NO)in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so ^(NP)we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.

The Day of the Lord

5 Now concerning ^(NQ)the times and the seasons, brothers,^{[aj] (NR)}you have no need to have anything written to you. ² For you yourselves are fully aware that ^(NS)the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then ^(NT)sudden destruction will come upon them ^(NU)as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you ^(NV)are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. ⁵ For you are all ^(NW)children^[ak] of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. ⁶ So then ^(NX)let us not sleep, as others do, but let us ^(NY)keep awake and ^(NZ)be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, ^(OA)are drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, ^(OB)having put on the breastplate of ^(OC)faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God has not destined us for ^(OD)wrath, but ^(OE)to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ^10 (OF)who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Final Instructions and Benediction

¹² We ask you, brothers, ^(OG)to respect those who labor among you and ^(OH)are over you in the Lord and admonish you, ¹³ and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. ^(OI)Be at peace among yourselves. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers, admonish ^(OJ)the idle,^{[al] (OK)}encourage the fainthearted, ^(OL)help the weak, ^(OM)be patient with them all. ¹⁵ See that ^(ON)no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always ^(OO)seek to do good to one another and to everyone. ^16 (OP)Rejoice always, ^17 (OQ)pray without ceasing, ^18 (OR)give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ^19 (OS)Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise ^(OT)prophecies, ²¹ but ^(OU)test everything; hold fast what is good. ²² Abstain from every form of evil.

²³ Now may ^(OV)the God of peace himself ^(OW)sanctify you completely, and may your ^(OX)whole ^(OY)spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at ^(OZ)the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ^24 (PA)He who calls you is faithful; ^(PB)he will surely do it.

^25 (PC)Brothers, pray for us.

^26 (PD)Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

²⁷ I put you under oath before the Lord to have ^(PE)this letter read to all the brothers.

^28 (PF)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Greeting

1 ^(PG)Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving

^3 (PH)We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers,^[am] as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. ⁴ Therefore ^(PI)we ourselves boast about you ^(PJ)in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith ^(PK)in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.

The Judgment at Christ's Coming

⁵ This is ^(PL)evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be ^(PM)considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— ⁶ since indeed God considers it ^(PN)just ^(PO)to repay with affliction those who afflict you, ⁷ and to grant ^(PP)relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when ^(PQ)the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven ^(PR)with his mighty angels ^8 (PS)in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those ^(PT)who do not know God and on those who ^(PU)do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. ⁹ They will suffer the punishment of ^(PV)eternal destruction, ^(PW)away from^[an] the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, ^10 (PX)when he comes on ^(PY)that day ^(PZ)to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our ^(QA)testimony to you ^(QB)was believed. ¹¹ To this end we ^(QC)always pray for you, that our God may ^(QD)make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every ^(QE)work of faith by his power, ¹² so that the name of our Lord Jesus ^(QF)may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Man of Lawlessness

2 Now concerning ^(QG)the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our ^(QH)being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers,^{[ao] 2} not to be quickly shaken in mind or ^(QI)alarmed, either ^(QJ)by a spirit or a ^(QK)spoken word, or ^(QL)a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that ^(QM)the day of the Lord has come. ^3 (QN)Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, ^(QO)unless the rebellion comes first, and ^(QP)the man of lawlessness^[ap] is revealed, ^(QQ)the son of destruction,^{[aq] 4} who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, ^(QR)proclaiming himself to be God. ⁵ Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? ⁶ And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. ⁷ For ^(QS)the mystery of lawlessness ^(QT)is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. ⁸ And then ^(QU)the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus ^(QV)will kill with ^(QW)the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by ^(QX)the appearance of his coming. ⁹ The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan ^(QY)with all power and false signs and wonders, ¹⁰ and with all wicked deception for ^(QZ)those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. ¹¹ Therefore ^(RA)God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe ^(RB)what is false, ¹² in order that all may be condemned ^(RC)who did not believe the truth but ^(RD)had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Stand Firm

¹³ But ^(RE)we ought always to give thanks to God for you, ^(RF)brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you ^(RG)as the firstfruits^{[ar] (RH)}to be saved, ^(RI)through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. ¹⁴ To this he called you through ^(RJ)our gospel, ^(RK)so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ So then, brothers, ^(RL)stand firm and hold to ^(RM)the traditions that you were taught by us, either ^(RN)by our spoken word or by ^(RO)our letter.

¹⁶ Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, ^(RP)who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good ^(RQ)hope through grace, ¹⁷ comfort your hearts and ^(RR)establish them in every good work and word.

Pray for Us

3 Finally, brothers,^{[as] (RS)}pray for us, that ^(RT)the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored,^[at] as happened among you, ² and ^(RU)that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For ^(RV)not all have faith. ³ But ^(RW)the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and ^(RX)guard you against ^(RY)the evil one.^{[au] 4} And ^(RZ)we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. ⁵ May the Lord ^(SA)direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Warning Against Idleness

⁶ Now we command you, brothers, ^(SB)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(SC)that you keep away from any ^(SD)brother ^(SE)who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know ^(SF)how you ought to imitate us, because ^(SG)we were not idle when we were with you, ⁸ nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but ^(SH)with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ It was ^(SI)not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves ^(SJ)an example to imitate. ¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: ^(SK)If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. ¹¹ For we hear that some among you ^(SL)walk in idleness, not busy at work, but ^(SM)busybodies. ¹² Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.^[av]

¹³ As for you, brothers, ^(SN)do not grow weary in doing good. ¹⁴ If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and ^(SO)have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. ^15 (SP)Do not regard him as an enemy, but ^(SQ)warn him as a brother.

Benediction

¹⁶ Now may ^(SR)the Lord of peace himself ^(SS)give you peace at all times in every way. ^(ST)The Lord be with you all.

¹⁷ I, Paul, write ^(SU)this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. ^18 (SV)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Greeting

1 Paul, ^(SW)an apostle of Christ Jesus ^(SX)by command of ^(SY)God our Savior and of Christ Jesus ^(SZ)our hope,

² To Timothy, ^(TA)my true child in the faith:

^(TB)Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Warning Against False Teachers

^3 (TC)As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not ^(TD)to teach any different doctrine, ⁴ nor ^(TE)to devote themselves to myths and endless ^(TF)genealogies, which promote ^(TG)speculations rather than the stewardship^[aw] from God that is by faith. ⁵ The aim of our charge is love ^(TH)that issues from a pure heart and ^(TI)a good conscience and ^(TJ)a sincere faith. ⁶ Certain persons, by ^(TK)swerving from these, have wandered away into ^(TL)vain discussion, ⁷ desiring to be teachers of the law, ^(TM)without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

⁸ Now we know that ^(TN)the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, ⁹ understanding this, that the ^(TO)law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, ¹⁰ the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers,^[ax] liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to ^(TP)sound^[ay] doctrine, ¹¹ in accordance with ^(TQ)the gospel of the glory of ^(TR)the blessed God ^(TS)with which I have been entrusted.

Christ Jesus Came to Save Sinners

¹² I thank him ^(TT)who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, ^(TU)appointing me to his service, ¹³ though formerly I was a blasphemer, ^(TV)persecutor, and insolent opponent. But ^(TW)I received mercy ^(TX)because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, ¹⁴ and ^(TY)the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the ^(TZ)faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ The saying is ^(UA)trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus ^(UB)came into the world to save sinners, ^(UC)of whom I am the foremost. ¹⁶ But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. ¹⁷ To ^(UD)the King of the ages, ^(UE)immortal, ^(UF)invisible, ^(UG)the only God, ^(UH)be honor and glory forever and ever.^[az] Amen.

¹⁸ This charge ^(UI)I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with ^(UJ)the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may ^(UK)wage the good warfare, ^19 (UL)holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have ^(UM)made shipwreck of their faith,