^19 (A)“I know your works, love, ^[a]service, faith, and your ^[b]patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.

⁵ Now ^(A)the purpose of the commandment is love ^(B)from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from ^[a]sincere faith,

⁷ to godliness brotherly kindness, and ^(A)to brotherly kindness love.

God’s Final Judgment and Glory

³ We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,

^2 (A)Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He ^[a]takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear ^(B)more fruit.

^2 (A)“I know your works, your labor, your ^[a]patience, and that you cannot ^[b]bear those who are evil. And ^(B)you have tested those ^(C)who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; ³ and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have ^(D)not become weary. ⁴ Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

^18 (A)but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

^(B)To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

⁸ And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ^(A)“love will cover a multitude of sins.”

Encouraged by Timothy

^6 (A)But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, ^(B)as we also to see you—