⁵ For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with excellence, and excellence with knowledge,^{(A) 6} and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, ⁷ and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. ⁸ For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.^(B)

¹³ We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers.^(A)

⁴ for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,^{(A) 5} because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel^{(B) 6} that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God.^(C)

⁷ If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.^(A)

¹³ he will love you, bless you, and multiply you; he will bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the issue of your flock, in the land that he swore to your ancestors to give you.^{(A) 14} You shall be the most blessed of peoples, with neither sterility nor barrenness among you or your livestock.^(B)

²⁶ No one shall miscarry or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.^(A)