¹⁵ He blessed Joseph and said,

The Sign of the Covenant

17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty;^[a] walk before me, and be blameless.^(A)

Fullness of Life in Christ

⁶ As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to walk in him,

²¹ By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, “bowing in worship over the top of his staff.”^(A)

⁶ Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment,^{(A) 7} for we brought nothing into the world, so that^[a] we can take nothing out of it, ⁸ but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. ⁹ But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.^{(B) 10} For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

¹² urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.^(A)

The Postponement of Paul’s Visit

¹² Indeed, this is our boast, the testimony of our conscience: we have behaved in the world with holiness^[a] and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God—and all the more toward you.^(A)

³¹ So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.^(A)

⁶ Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord.^(A)