Now may the Lord direct your hearts toward the love of God ¹  and the endurance of Christ. ² 

to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; ¹  to perseverance, godliness;

You, however, ¹  have followed my teaching, my ²  way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance,

because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, ¹  be on your guard that you do not get led astray by the error of these unprincipled men ²  and fall from your firm grasp on the truth. ³ 

By your endurance ¹  you will gain ²  your lives. ³ 

Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, ¹  sound in faith, in love, and in endurance. ² 

And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.

because we recall ¹  in the presence of our God and Father ²  your work of faith and labor of love and endurance of hope ³  in our Lord Jesus Christ.

As a result we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you are enduring.

Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another ¹  in accordance with Christ Jesus,

being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for the display of ¹  all patience and steadfastness, joyfully

But you, as a person dedicated to God, ¹  keep away from all that. ²  Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.

For though ¹  I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, rejoicing to see ²  your morale ³  and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope.

This requires ¹  the steadfast endurance ²  of the saints – those who obey ³  God’s commandments and hold to ⁴  their faith in Jesus. ⁵ 

Think of how we regard ¹  as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and you have seen the Lord’s purpose, that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy. ² 

saying “Praised be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his faithful love ¹  for my master! The Lord has led me ²  to the house ³  of my master’s relatives!” ⁴ 

But now Timothy has come ¹  to us from you and given us the good news of your faith and love and that you always think of us with affection ²  and long to see us just as we also long to see you! ³