¹² Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, ¹³ but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.^(A)

² “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem:

“This is what the Lord says:

⁵ This is what the Lord says:

¹⁰ God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.^{(A) 11} We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope^(B) for may be fully realized.

⁹ And this is my prayer: that your love^(A) may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,^(B)

⁹ Now about your love for one another^(A) we do not need to write to you,^(B) for you yourselves have been taught by God^(C) to love each other.^{(D) 10} And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia.^(E) Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,^(F)

¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind^(A) and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on^(B) toward the goal to win the prize^(C) for which God has called^(D) me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example

¹⁵ All of us, then, who are mature^(E) should take such a view of things.^(F) And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.^{(G) 16} Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

To the Church in Laodicea

¹⁴ “To the angel of the church in Laodicea^(A) write:

Thanksgiving and Prayer

³ We ought always to thank God for you,^(A) brothers and sisters,^[a] and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.^(B)