Therefore, brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.
Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling for you in his prayers, so that you can stand mature and fully assured in everything God wills.
During his earthly life, he offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.
If anyone is to be taken captive, into captivity he goes. If anyone is to be killed with a sword, with a sword he will be killed. This calls for endurance and faithfulness from the saints.
Therefore, we ourselves boast about you among God’s churches #– #about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions that you are enduring.
For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.
But the seed in the good ground #– #these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, produce fruit.
We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work produced by faith, your labour motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.