The document is a letter discussing the author's care and concern for the recipient. The author expresses confidence that God will complete the good work started in the recipient. The author recalls how the recipient has stood by them through trials and difficulties, experiencing God's generosity. The author prays for the recipient's love to grow in sincerity and intelligence, guiding them to live a virtuous life that pleases God and draws others to faith.
4. 3–6 Every time you crossmy mind, I break
out in exclamationsof thanks to God. Each
exclamationis a trigger to prayer. I find
myself praying for you with a gladheart. I
am so pleased that you have continued on
in this with us, believing and proclaiming
God’s Message, from the day you heard it
right up to the present.
5. There has never been the slightest doubt
in my mind that the God who started this
great workin you wouldkeep at it and
bring it to a flourishingfinish on the very
day ChristJesus appears.
7–8 It’s not at all fanciful for me to think
this way aboutyou. My prayers and hopes
have deep rootsin reality.
6. You have, after all,stuck with me all the
way from the time I was thrown in jail, put
on trial, and came out of it in one piece. All
along you have experienced with me the
mostgenerous help from God. He knows
how much I loveand miss you these days.
Sometimes I think I feel as strongly about
you as Christ does!
7. So this is my prayer: that your love will
flourish and that you will not onlylove
muchbut well.Learn to loveappropriately.
You need to use your head and test your
feelings so that your love issincere and
intelligent, not sentimental gush.
8. Live a lover’slife, circumspectand
exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of:
bountiful in fruits from the soul, making
Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting
everyone involved in the gloryand praiseof
God.
13. There has never been the slightest doubt
in my mind that theGod who startedthis
greatwork in youwouldkeep at it and
bringit to a flourishingfinish onthe very
day ChristJesus appears.
7–8 It’s not at all fanciful for me to think
this way aboutyou. My prayersand hopes
havedeep rootsin reality.
17. You have, after all,stuck with me all the
way from the time I was thrown in jail, put
on trial, and came out of it in one piece. All
alongyouhaveexperiencedwithme the
mostgeneroushelpfromGod.He knows
how much I loveand miss you these days.
Sometimes I think I feel as strongly about
you as Christ does!
22. Youhave,afterall,stuckwithme allthe
wayfromthetimeI wasthrownin jail,put
on trial,and cameoutof it in one piece. All
along you have experienced with me the
mostgenerous help from God. He knows
how much I loveand miss you these days.
Sometimes I think I feel as strongly about
you as Christ does!
25. So this is my prayer: thatyourlovewill
flourishand thatyouwill notonlylove
muchbutwell. Learnto loveappropriately.
You need to use your head and test your
feelings so that your love issincere and
intelligent, not sentimental gush.