2 Thessalonians 2

1 Now, friends, read these next words carefully. Slow down and don’t go jumping to conclusions regarding the day when our Master, Jesus Christ, will come back and we assemble to welcome him.2 Don’t let anyone shake you up or get you excited over some breathless report or rumored letter from me that the day of the Master’s arrival has come and gone.

3 Don’t fall for any line like that.
Before that day comes, a couple of things have to happen. First, the Apostasy. Second, the debut of the Anarchist, a real dog of Satan.4 He’ll defy and then take over every so-called god or altar. Having cleared away the opposition, he’ll then set himself up in God’s Temple as “God Almighty.”5 Don’t you remember me going over all this in detail when I was with you? Are your memories that short?6 You’ll also remember that I told you the Anarchist is being held back until just the right time.7 That doesn’t mean that the spirit of anarchy is not now at work. It is, secretly and underground.8 But the time will come when the Anarchist will no longer be held back, but will be let loose. But don’t worry. The Master Jesus will be right on his heels and blow him away. The Master appears and—puff!—the Anarchist is out of there.9 The Anarchist’s coming is all Satan’s work. All his power and signs and miracles are fake,10 evil sleight of hand that plays to the gallery of those who hate the truth that could save them.11 And since they’re so obsessed with evil, God rubs their noses in it—gives them what they want.12 Since they refuse to trust truth, they’re banished to their chosen world of lies and illusions.13 Meanwhile, we’ve got our hands full continually thanking God for you, our good friends—so loved by God! God picked you out as his from the very start. Think of it: included in God’s original plan of salvation by the bond of faith in the living truth.14 This is the life of the Spirit he invited you to through the Message we delivered, in which you get in on the glory of our Master, Jesus Christ.15 So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter.16 May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence,

17 put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.
Those Who Are Lazy

2 Thessalonians 3

1 One more thing, friends: Pray for us. Pray that the Master’s Word will simply take off and race through the country to a groundswell of response, just as it did among you.2 And pray that we’ll be rescued from these scoundrels who are trying to do us in. I’m finding that not all “believers” are believers.3 But the Master never lets us down. He’ll stick by you and protect you from evil.4 Because of the Master, we have great confidence in you. We know you’re doing everything we told you and will continue doing it.5 May the Master take you by the hand and lead you along the path of God’s love and Christ’s endurance.6 Our orders—backed up by the Master, Jesus—are to refuse to have anything to do with those among you who are lazy and refuse to work the way we taught you. Don’t permit them to freeload on the rest.7 We showed you how to pull your weight when we were with you, so get on with it.8 We didn’t sit around on our hands expecting others to take care of us. In fact, we worked our fingers to the bone, up half the night moonlighting so you wouldn’t be burdened with taking care of us.9 And it wasn’t because we didn’t have a right to your support; we did. We simply wanted to provide an example of diligence, hoping it would prove contagious.10 Don’t you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.”11 And now we’re getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you.12 This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately—no excuses, no arguments—and earn their own keep.13 Friends, don’t slack off in doing your duty.14 If anyone refuses to obey our clear command written in this letter, don’t let him get by with it. Point out such a person and refuse to subsidize his freeloading. Maybe then he’ll think twice.15 But don’t treat him as an enemy. Sit him down and talk about the problem as someone who cares.16 May the Master of Peace himself give you the gift of getting along with each other at all times, in all ways. May the Master be truly among you!17 I, Paul, bid you good-bye in my own handwriting. I do this in all my letters, so examine my signature as proof that the letter is genuine.18 The incredible grace of our Master, Jesus Christ, be with all of you!

1 Timothy 1

1 I, Paul, am an apostle on special assignment for Christ, our living hope. Under God our Savior’s command,

2 I’m writing this to you, Timothy, my son in the faith. All the best from our God and Christ be yours!
Self-Appointed Experts on Life3 On my way to the province of Macedonia, I advised you to stay in Ephesus. Well, I haven’t changed my mind. Stay right there on top of things so that the teaching stays on track.4 Apparently some people have been introducing fantasy stories and fanciful family trees that digress into silliness instead of pulling the people back into the center, deepening faith and obedience.5 The whole point of what we’re urging is simply love—love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God.6 Those who fail to keep to this point soon wander off into cul-de-sacs of gossip.7 They set themselves up as experts on religious issues, but haven’t the remotest idea of what they’re holding forth with such imposing eloquence.8 It’s true that moral guidance and counsel need to be given, but the way you say it and to whom you say it are as important as what you say.9 It’s obvious, isn’t it, that the law code isn’t primarily for people who live responsibly, but for the irresponsible, who defy all authority, riding roughshod over God, life,10 sex, truth, whatever!11 They are contemptuous of this great Message I’ve been put in charge of by this great God.12 I’m so grateful to Christ Jesus for making me adequate to do this work. He went out on a limb, you know, in trusting me with this ministry.13 The only credentials I brought to it were invective and witch hunts and arrogance. But I was treated mercifully because I didn’t know what I was doing—didn’t know Who I was doing it against!14 Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me. And all because of Jesus.15 Here’s a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I’m proof—Public Sinner Number One—16 of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy. And now he shows me off—evidence of his endless patience—to those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever.

17 Deep honor and bright glory
to the King of All Time—
One God, Immortal, Invisible,
ever and always. Oh, yes!18 I’m passing this work on to you, my son Timothy. The prophetic word that was directed to you prepared us for this. All those prayers are coming together now so you will do this well, fearless in your struggle,

19 keeping a firm grip on your faith and on yourself. After all, this is a fight we’re in.
There are some, you know, who by relaxing their grip and thinking anything goes have made a thorough mess of their faith.

20 Hymenaeus and Alexander are two of them. I let them wander off to Satan to be taught a lesson or two about not blaspheming.
Simple Faith and Plain Truth