Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹³ My brothers, the Lord loves you. We should thank God for you always. Here is why. From the beginning God chose you to be saved. You were saved because the Spirit made you holy and because you believed the true message.

¹⁴ God called you to be saved by the good news we brought you. He did this so that you would have some of the honour which the Lord Jesus Christ has.

¹⁵ So my brothers, be strong. Hold on to the things we taught you by our words or by letter.

¹⁶ God has loved us and made us happy through his kindness. He gave us everlasting comfort and good hope.

¹⁷ May our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, comfort your hearts and make you strong to do and say everything that is good.

3 My brothers, please talk to God about us. Ask God that the Lord's message may reach many people quickly and that they may receive it gladly as you did.

² Ask God that we may be saved from bad people who do wrong things. Not everyone believes in Christ.

³ But the Lord can be trusted. He will make you strong. He will keep you safe from all that is wrong.

⁴ The Lord makes us feel sure about you. We are sure that you are doing, and will do, what we tell you to do.

⁵ May the Lord lead you to love God and be patient like Christ.