Faith Expressions

Love from the Epistles: 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Philemon and 2 Peter

First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians

“We always thank God for all of you, making mention of you constantly in our prayers. We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work produced by faith, your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full assurance”

(1 Thessalonians 1:2-5 / CSB 2018) --- Bible verses about a prayer of gratitude to God for the virtues of faith, love and hope that comes from Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit, enabling the people of the Church to do their work

“Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you. And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone, just as we do for you.”

(1 Thessalonians 3:11-12 / CSB 2018) --- Bible verses about a prayer of intercession for the believers so that their love will continue to grow and overflow

“About brotherly love: You don’t need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. In fact, you are doing this toward all the brothers and sisters in the entire region of Macedonia. But we encourage you, brothers and sisters, to do this even more, to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you….”

(1 Thessalonians 4:9-11 / CSB 2018) --- Bible verses about the virtues of love and work that come from God

Second Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians

“But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 / CSB 2018) --- Bible verses about a prayer of thanksgiving to God for saving the believers and which reaffirm the belief that salvation comes from God’s love

“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.”

(2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 / CSB 2018) --- Bible verses about a prayer for help to do good work and to use good speech, and which reaffirm the belief that every good work and word comes from God’s love

First Letter of Paul to Timothy

“Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith”

(1 Timothy 1:5 / CSB 2018) --- Bible verse about the main reason for preaching the gospel and which shows three main components of love: a clean heart, a clear conscience and a sincere faith

“I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry – even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: ’Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’ – and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.”

(1 Timothy 1:12-16 / CSB 2018) --- Bible verses about Paul’s testimony regarding his conversion to Christianity as a product of God’s merciful, patient love and which reaffirm the belief that salvation, which comes from Jesus Christ, is for all

Second Letter of Paul to Timothy

“I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day. Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and now, I am convinced, is in you also. Therefore, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgement.”

(2 Timothy 1:3-7 / CSB 2018) --- Bible verses about Paul’s prayer of thanksgiving to God for the Spirit of power and love God has given to Timothy

“I solemn charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine…But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is close. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing.”

(2 Timothy 4:1-3 and 5-8 / CSB 2018) --- Bible verses about the love for God and Christ as the “good fight of faith” which is manifested by an unrelenting work to spread the gospel of Christ – the good news of salvation for all – and by pure longing to be with Christ, eternally, and which appear to show clearly that Paul’s life journey on earth was coming to an end

Letter of Paul to Philemon

“I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, because I hear of your love for all the saints and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ. For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.”

(Philemon 1:4-7 / CSB 2018) --- Bible verses about the support and love Philemon gave to a community of believers which caused Paul to thank God

“Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you [Philemon] to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul – an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus – that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly, he was useless to you…I am sending him back…to you. Perhaps the reason…that you might have him back forever – no longer as a slave but…as a dear brother….”

(Philemon 1:8-12 and 15-16 / NIV® 2011) --- Bible verses about the power of Christ’s love to heal broken relationships and to transform the lives of individuals for the better

Second Letter of Peter

“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(2 Peter 1:5-8 / CSB 2018) --- Bible verses about the characters and values one needs to acquire in order to serve the Lord Jesus Christ

“For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ’This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him [Jesus] on the sacred mountain.”

(2 Peter 1:16-18 / NIV® 2011) --- Bible verses about Peter’s eyewitness account of the transfiguration of Jesus and the love of God the Father for His Son, Jesus

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