Let such a person consider this: What we say ¹  by letters when we are absent, we also are in actions when we are present.

But we will not boast beyond certain limits, ¹  but will confine our boasting ²  according to the limits of the work to which God has appointed us, ³  that reaches even as far as you.

who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father,

In him ¹  we have redemption through his blood, ²  the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace

For he is our peace, the one who made both groups into one ¹  and who destroyed the middle wall of partition, the hostility,

until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God – a mature person, attaining to ¹  the measure of Christ’s full stature. ² 

Therefore, having laid aside falsehood, each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, ¹  for we are members of one another.

but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we declare it, not to please people but God, who examines our hearts.

For who is our hope or joy or crown to boast of ¹  before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not of course you?

so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.

But since we are of the day, we must stay sober by putting on the breastplate ¹  of faith and love and as a helmet our hope for salvation. ² 

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.

For we hear that some among you are living an undisciplined life, ¹  not doing their own work but meddling in the work of others. ² 

But the aim of our instruction ¹  is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. ² 

To do this ¹  you must hold firmly to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck in regard to the faith.

In fact this is why ¹  we work hard and struggle, ²  because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, ³  especially of believers.

It trains us ¹  to reject godless ways ²  and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

But Christ ¹  is faithful as a son over God’s ²  house. We are of his house, ³  if in fact we hold firmly ⁴  to our confidence and the hope we take pride in. ⁵ 

For we have become partners with Christ, if in fact we hold our initial confidence ¹  firm until the end.

Therefore we must be wary ¹  that, while the promise of entering his rest remains open, none of you may seem to have come short of it.