Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Suffering in hope
32 But remember the earlier times! When you were first enlightened, you went through great struggles and suffering. 33 Sometimes you were exposed to public reproach and physical abuse. Sometimes you stood alongside people who were being treated in that way. 34 You even shared the sufferings of those who were imprisoned. When people looted your property, you actually welcomed it joyfully, because you knew that you had a better possession, a lasting one.
35 So don’t throw away your confidence. It carries a great reward. 36 What you need is patience, you see; then, when you’ve done what God wants, you will receive the promise.
37 For in just a little while from now,
the Coming One will come, and won’t delay;
38 but my righteous one will live by faith;
and if he hesitates, my soul will not delight in him.
39 We are not among the hesitators, who are destroyed! We are people of faith, and our lives will be kept safe.
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.