1 Thessalonians 2:6

But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak: not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts.

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

You adulterers and adulteresses, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed, when he comes in his glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels.

not in the way of service only when eyes are on you, as men pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.

I beg you therefore, be imitators of me.

But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length you have revived your thought for me; in which you did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity.

Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.

the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jews’ enemy, but they didn’t lay their hand on the plunder.

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.

They sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the way of God in truth, no matter whom you teach, for you aren’t partial to anyone.

Remain in that same house, eating and drinking the things they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Don’t go from house to house.

I coveted no one’s silver, gold, or clothing.

or he who exhorts, to his exhorting; he who gives, let him do it with generosity; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Have we no right to eat and to drink?

Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh.

not as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.

Don’t love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him.

to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.

Yahweh God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

Then he said, “I have sinned; yet please honor me now before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and come back with me, that I may worship Yahweh your God.”

Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.

But I don’t seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges.

and because he practiced the same trade, he lived with them and worked, for by trade they were tent makers.

I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus; for that which was lacking on your part, they supplied.

For even if I boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down, I will not be ashamed,

in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness.

Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such people in honor,

whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things.

I know how to be humbled, and I also know how to abound. In everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need.

For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my need.

Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of your souls, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy, and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you.

After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes who were with him.

A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.

Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.

Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.

For he has said, “By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I have understanding. I have removed the boundaries of the peoples, and have robbed their treasures. Like a valiant man I have brought down their rulers.

Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride, will be like when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them.

But they do all their works to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments,

I don’t receive glory from men.

If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there my servant will also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks,

Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, you being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Even so the Lord ordained that those who proclaim the Good News should live from the Good News.

For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.

Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.

We don’t control your faith, but are fellow workers with you for your joy. For you stand firm in faith.

And I wrote this very thing to you, so that, when I came, I wouldn’t have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy would be shared by all of you.

When I was present with you and was in need, I wasn’t a burden on anyone, for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my need. In everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I will continue to do so.

But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another.

But let him who is taught in the word share all good things with him who teaches.

For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn’t behave ourselves rebelliously among you,

neither did we eat bread from anyone’s hand without paying for it, but in labor and travail worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you,

This testimony is true. For this cause, reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,

Remember your leaders, men who spoke to you the word of God, and considering the results of their conduct, imitate their faith.

And on her forehead a name was written, “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”

A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, and will be found no more at all.

They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.

He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

But the testimony which I receive is not from man. However, I say these things that you may be saved.

How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God?

Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech,

For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.

For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail; for working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the Good News of God.

not because we don’t have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us.

For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we have set our trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

The farmer who labors must be the first to get a share of the crops.

that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ—

The great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

standing far away for the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For your judgment has come in one hour.’

He displayed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even one hundred eighty days.

Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, the multitude of his children, all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.

It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.

The king spoke and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?”

Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.

He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory, but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

for they loved men’s praise more than God’s praise.

They also honored us with many honors, and when we sailed, they put on board the things that we needed.

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus Christ, our Lord? Aren’t you my work in the Lord?

What then is my reward? That when I preach the Good News, I may present the Good News of Christ without charge, so as not to abuse my authority in the Good News.

for man wasn’t created for the woman, but woman for the man.

For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake,

It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. For I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for tearing down.

Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.

For even they who receive circumcision don’t keep the law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh.

doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;

Honor widows who are widows indeed.

Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.