1 ARST Persist in loving your fellow believers. BSB BSB: Continue in brotherly love.
2 ARST Make sure that you are welcoming other people.{ You should do that} because some people who welcomed others actually welcomed spiritual beings, although they did not know{ that they were spiritual beings}. BSB BSB: Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
3 ARST Be sure to help those who are in jail.{ You should help them} as{ you would want others to help you} were you in jail with them.{ Also, do not forget to help} those whom others treat badly.{ You should do that} because you too are humans{ who can suffer}. BSB BSB: Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them.
5 ARST You should always avoid desiring money.{ You can do that} by being happy with whatever you have.{ You should behave in this way,} because God has spoken{ these words to each of you}:“I will definitely not abandon you. Yes, I will always be with you.” BSB BSB: Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
6 ARST Because{ God says that,} we boldly speak{ these words}:“The Lord{ God} is the one who supports me. Because of that, I do not fear anyone. No one can do anything to{ hurt} me.” BSB BSB: So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
7 ARST Pay attention to the people who were in charge of your group. I mean the ones who told you about{ what} God{ has done}. Examine{ the good things} that happened because of how they lived. You should imitate how they trusted God. BSB BSB: Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
8 ARST Jesus the Messiah has never changed and will never change. BSB BSB: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
9 ARST Do not let other people mislead you by teaching you many kinds of things that do not fit{ with the good news}.{ You should reject what they teach,} because only what God gives us rightly makes us strong. The food{ that we eat} cannot{ do that}. In fact, people who act as if{ food could do that} gain nothing. BSB BSB: Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to them.
10 ARST We benefit from{ Jesus’} offering,{ which is greater than the offerings that} the priests presented in the sacred tent.{ In fact, those priests} would be unable to participate in Jesus’ offering. BSB BSB: We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat.
11 ARST In the Most Holy Place, the ruling priest would present blood from animals{ that he had killed}.{ He did that} to take away sins. Someone{ then} would completely burn the remains of these animals away from where the Israelites were staying. BSB BSB: Although the high priest brings the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, the bodies are burned outside the camp.
13 ARST So then, we should abandon everything that could separate us from the Messiah.{ As we do that,} we should accept it when people insult us like they insulted him. BSB BSB: Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore.
14 ARST { We should do that} because, here{ on earth}, we do not live in any city that will last forever. Rather, we desire{ to live in} the city that God will soon give us. BSB BSB: For here we do not have a permanent city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
15 ARST With Jesus helping us, we should frequently praise God, as if we were presenting offerings to him. We do that when we say that we believe in Jesus. BSB BSB: Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.
16 ARST Further, we need to make sure that we help others by giving some of what we have to them. Doing that is like presenting offerings that please God. BSB BSB: And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
17 ARST Those who are in charge of your group{ know that} God considers them responsible for you, and so they always focus on taking care of you. Because of that, you should respectfully do what they require. That way, they can{ lead your group} joyfully instead of sadly. Indeed,{ if they led sadly,} that would not help you at all. BSB BSB: Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.
18 ARST Please ask God to help me and those with me.{ I ask that} because we are sure that we are not guilty. Indeed, we always want to behave properly. BSB BSB: Pray for us; we are convinced that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.
19 ARST I urge you still more to ask God to send me back to you quickly. BSB BSB: And I especially urge you to pray that I may be restored to you soon.
20 ARST God is the one who makes his people peaceful. He made our Lord Jesus alive again after he had died. Jesus is like a powerful sheepherder who leads us, his sheep.{ God made him alive again} because Jesus used his own blood to make{ the new} covenant that will last forever. BSB BSB: Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,
21 ARST We pray that God will provide you with all{ his} good{ gifts}. That way, you can do what he wants you to do. In fact, he works through Jesus the Messiah to enable us to do what pleases him. So, let us honor God forever! May it be so! BSB BSB: equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
22 ARST I have sent you a short letter. So, I ask you, fellow believers, to please consider carefully what I have said to encourage you. BSB BSB: I urge you, brothers, to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have only written to you briefly.
23 ARST I want you to be aware that{ the authorities} have released Timothy, our fellow believer. If he arrives here quickly, we will visit you together. BSB BSB: Be aware that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.
24 ARST Say hello to everyone who is in charge of your group. Also,{ say hello to} all God’ s people. The{ believers} who are from the country of Italy say hello to you. BSB BSB: Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy send you greetings.
25 ARST { I pray that God will} be gracious to you all. BSB BSB: Grace be with all of you.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.