Finallythen,brethren,we requestand exhortyou in the LordJesus,that as you receivedfrom us [instruction] as to howyou oughtto walkand pleaseGod(justas you actuallydo walk),that you excelstill more.
but soughtthe Godof his father,followedHis commandments,and did not actas Israeldid.
"Nevertheless the righteouswill holdto his way,And he who has cleanhandswill growstrongerand stronger.
They will stillyieldfruitin oldage;They shall be fullof sapand verygreen,
But the pathof the righteousis like the lightof dawn,That shinesbrighterand brighteruntilthe fullday.
"Everybranchin Me that does not bearfruit,He takes away;and every[branch] that bearsfruit,He prunesit sothat it may bearmorefruit.
"For I did not shrinkfrom declaringto you the wholepurposeof God.
and thosewho are in the fleshcannotpleaseGod.
For I receivedfrom the Lordthat whichI alsodeliveredto you, that the LordJesusin the nightin whichHe was betrayedtookbread;
NowI make knownto you, brethren,the gospelwhichI preachedto you, whichalsoyou received,in whichalsoyou stand,
Therefore,my belovedbrethren,be steadfast,immovable,alwaysaboundingin the workof the Lord,knowingthat your toilis not [in] vainin the Lord.
NowI, Paul,myselfurgeyou by the meeknessand gentlenessof Christ--I whoam meekwhen face to facewith you, but boldtowardyou when absent!
Finally,brethren,rejoice,be made complete,be comforted,be like-minded,live in peace;and the Godof loveand peacewill be with you.
Thereforewe alsohave as our ambition,whetherat homeorabsent,to be pleasingto Him.
And working together[with Him], we alsourgeyou not to receivethe graceof Godin vain--
Brethren,evenifanyoneis caughtin anytrespass,you who are spiritual,restoresuch a onein a spiritof gentleness;[each one] lookingto yourself,sothat you toowill not be tempted.
ThereforeI, the prisonerof the Lord,imploreyou to walkin a manner worthyof the callingwith whichyou have been called,
But you did not learnChristin this way,
Sothendo not be foolish,but understandwhatthe willof the Lordis.
Onlyconductyourselves in a manner worthyof the gospelof Christ,sothat whetherI comeand seeyou orremain absent,I will hearof you that you are standing firmin onespirit,with onemindstriving togetherfor the faithof the gospel;
And thisI pray,that your lovemay aboundstillmoreand morein real knowledgeand alldiscernment,
I presson towardthe goalfor the prizeof the upwardcallof Godin ChristJesus.
so that you will walkin a manner worthyof the Lord,to please[Him] in allrespects,bearing fruitin everygoodworkand increasingin the knowledgeof God;
Thereforeas you have receivedChristJesusthe Lord,[so] walkin Him,
and may the Lordcauseyou to increaseand aboundin lovefor one another,and for all people,justas we also[do] for you;
For you knowwhatcommandmentswe gaveyou by [the authority of] the LordJesus.
But we requestof you, brethren,that you appreciatethosewho diligently laboramongyou, and have charge overyou in the Lordand give you instruction,
We oughtalwaysto give thanksto Godfor you, brethren,as is [only] fitting,becauseyour faithis greatly enlarged,and the loveof eachoneof you towardone anothergrows [ever] greater;
Nowwe requestyou, brethren,with regardto the comingof our LordJesusChristand our gathering togetherto Him,
Finally,brethren,prayfor us that the wordof the Lordwill spread rapidlyand be glorified,justas [it did] alsowith you;
But as for you, brethren,do not grow wearyof doing good.
I solemnly chargeyou in the presenceof Godand of ChristJesusand of [His] chosenangels,to maintainthese[principles] withoutbias,doingnothingin a [spirit of] partiality.
I solemnly charge[you] in the presenceof Godand of ChristJesus,who is to judgethe livingand the dead,and by His appearingand His kingdom:
And withoutfaithit is impossibleto please[Him], for he who comesto Godmustbelievethat He is and [that] He is a rewarderof thosewho seekHim.
And do not neglectdoing goodand sharing,for with suchsacrificesGodis pleased.
But I urgeyou, brethren,bearwith thiswordof exhortation,for I have writtento you briefly.
but growin the graceand knowledgeof our Lordand SaviorJesusChrist.To Him [be] the glory,bothnowand to the dayof eternity.Amen.
and whateverwe askwe receivefrom Him, becausewe keepHis commandmentsand dothe things that are pleasingin His sight.