He exhorts us to love, to be ready to take people in, to be thoughtful of persons in adversity, to maintain wedlock, to avoid covetousness, to make much of those who preach God’s word, to beware of other teaching, to be content to suffer rebuke with Christ, to be thankful to God, and to be obedient to those who have the oversight of us.
13 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Be not forgetful to lodge strangers, for by so doing some have received angels into their houses unawares. 3 Remember those who are in bonds, even as though you were bound with them. Be mindful of those who are in adversity, as persons who are yourselves also yet in your bodies.
4 Let wedlock be had in honour in all points, and let the bedchamber be undefiled. For whorekeepers and adulterers God will judge.
5 Let your living be without covetousness, and be content with what you have already. For he has truly said: I will not fail you nor forsake you. 6 Therefore we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man does to me.
7 Remember those who have the oversight of you, who have declared to you the word of God. See that you look upon the way they live out their life, and follow their faith.
8 Jesus Christ continues the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be carried about with other and different teaching. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace, and not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied in them.
10 We have an altar from which those who serve in the tabernacle may not eat. 11 For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest to purge sin, are burnt outside the tents. 12 Therefore Jesus, to sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate.
13 Let us go forth therefore out of the tents and suffer rebuke with him. 14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 15 For by him we offer the sacrifice of laud always to God; that is to say, the fruit of those lips that confess his name.
16 To do good and to distribute to the poor, do not forget. For with such sacrifices, God is pleased.
17 Obey those who have the oversight of you, and submit yourselves to them, for they watch for your souls even as those who must give accounts. Let them do it with joy, and not with grief. For that is an unprofitable thing for you.
18 Pray for us. We have confidence, because we have a good conscience in all things, and desire to live righteously. 19 I ask you therefore even more so to pray that I may be restored to you quickly.
20 May the God of peace, who brought back again from death our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting testament, 21 make you perfect in all good works to do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ – to whom be glory forever while the world endures. Amen.
22 I beseech you brethren, submit patiently to the words of exhortation. For we have written to you in few words.
23 Acknowledge the brother Timothy, whom we have sent from us, with whom (if he comes shortly) I will see you.
24 Greet those who have the oversight of you, and all the saints. The people of Italy send you greetings.
25 Grace be with you all.
Sent from Italy by
the hand of
Timothy.