For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, ¹  have not ceased praying for you and asking God ²  to fill ³  you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

So ¹  when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter somehow tempted you and our toil had proven useless.

But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that ¹  in me as the worst, ²  Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life.

(See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that ¹  we should be called God’s children – and indeed ²  we are! ³  For this reason ⁴  the world does not know us: because it did not know him. ⁵ 

This is why Joshua had to circumcise them: All the men old enough to fight when they left Egypt died on the journey through the desert after they left Egypt. ¹ 

¹ Come, let’s consider your options,” ²  says the Lord. “Though your sins have stained you like the color red, you can become ³  white like snow; though they are as easy to see as the color scarlet, you can become ⁴  white like wool. ⁵ 

For this reason, I have sent Timothy to you, who is my dear and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ, ¹  as I teach them everywhere in every church.

The reason I left you in Crete was to set in order the remaining matters and to appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

But I wish to speak ¹  to the Almighty, ²  and I desire to argue ³  my case ⁴  with God.

Now this happened ¹  to fulfill the word that is written in their law, ‘They hated me without reason.’ ² 

Therefore when you sent for me, ¹  I came without any objection. Now may I ask why ²  you sent for me?”

Such testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply that they may be healthy in the faith

But ¹  for this purpose I have caused you to stand: ²  to show you ³  my strength, and so that my name may be declared ⁴  in all the earth.

For this reason I speak to them in parables: Although they see they do not see, and although they hear they do not hear nor do they understand.

Then ¹  the experts in the law ²  and the Pharisees began to think ³  to themselves, ⁴  “Who is this man ⁵  who is uttering blasphemies? ⁶  Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

The experts in the law ¹  and the Pharisees ²  watched ³  Jesus ⁴  closely to see if ⁵  he would heal on the Sabbath, ⁶  so that they could find a reason to accuse him.

For this reason also the wisdom ¹  of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’

“Now my soul is greatly distressed. And what should I say? ‘Father, deliver me ¹  from this hour’? ²  No, but for this very reason I have come to this hour. ³ 

So Peter went down ¹  to the men and said, “Here I am, ²  the person you’re looking for. Why have you come?”

Then Satan answered the Lord, “Is it for nothing that Job fears God? ¹