Request for Prayer

1Concerning other things, brothers, pray for us, so that the Word of God may advance and be glorified, just as it is among you, 2and so that we may be freed from pertinacious and evil men. For not everyone is faithful. 3But God is faithful. He will strengthen you, and he will guard you from evil. 4And we have confidence about you in the Lord, that you are doing, and will continue to do, just as we have instructed. 5And may the Lord direct your hearts, in the charity of God and with the patience of Christ.

A Warning against Idleness

6But we strongly caution you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to draw yourselves away from every brother who is walking in disorder and not according to the tradition that they received from us. 7For you yourselves know the manner in which you ought to imitate us. For we were not disorderly among you. 8Nor did we eat bread from anyone for free, but rather, we worked night and day, in hardship and weariness, so as not to be burdensome to you. 9It was not as if we had no authority, but this was so that we might present ourselves as an example to you, in order to imitate us. 10Then, too, while we were with you, we insisted on this to you: that if anyone was not willing to work, neither should he eat. 11For we have heard that there are some among you who act disruptively, not working at all, but eagerly meddling. 12Now we charge those who act in this way, and we beg them in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they work in silence and eat their own bread. 13And you, brothers, do not grow weak in doing good.

14But if anyone does not obey our word by this epistle, take note of him and do not keep company with him, so that he may be ashamed. 15But do not be willing to consider him as an enemy; instead, correct him as a brother.

Signature and Final Greetings
(1 Corinthians 16:19–24; Colossians 4:15–18)

16Then may the Lord of peace himself give you an everlasting peace, in every place. May the Lord be with all of you.

17The greeting of Paul with my own hand, which is the seal in every epistle. So do I write. 18May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.