And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,

The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains;

but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.

Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.

that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,

because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,

But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;