He wrote ¹  a letter that went like this: ² 

I, Tertius, who am writing this letter, greet you in the Lord.

I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.

I do not want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters,

I call on you solemnly in the Lord ¹  to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters. ² 

For even if I made you sad ¹  by my letter, ²  I do not regret having written it ³  (even though I did regret it, ⁴  for ⁵  I see that my letter made you sad, ⁶  though only for a short time).

So when they were dismissed, ¹  they went down to Antioch, ²  and after gathering the entire group ³  together, they delivered the letter.

When the horsemen ¹  came to Caesarea ²  and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented ³  Paul to him.

Then, when I arrive, I will send those whom you approve with letters of explanation to carry your gift to Jerusalem. ¹ 

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? We don’t need letters of recommendation to you or from you as some other people do, do we? ¹ 

You yourselves are our letter, ¹  written on our hearts, known and read by everyone,

Therefore, brothers and sisters, ¹  stand firm and hold on to the traditions that we taught you, whether by speech or by letter. ² 

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, which is how I write in every letter. ¹ 

Dear friends, this is already the second letter I have written ¹  you, in which ²  I am trying to stir up ³  your pure mind by way of reminder:

because some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is weak ¹  and his speech is of no account.” ² 

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.

And after ¹  you have read this letter, have it read ²  to the church of Laodicea. In turn, read the letter from Laodicea ³  as well.

But if anyone does not obey our message through this letter, take note of him and do not associate closely with him, so that he may be ashamed.

and requested letters from him to the synagogues ¹  in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, ²  either men or women, he could bring them as prisoners ³  to Jerusalem. ⁴ 

as both the high priest and the whole council of elders ¹  can testify about me. From them ²  I also received ³  letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way ⁴  to make arrests there and bring ⁵  the prisoners ⁶  to Jerusalem ⁷  to be punished.