Final Exhortation

¹³ Be alert, stand firm in the faith,^(A) be courageous,^[a] be strong.

Freedom of the Christian

5 For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm,^(A) then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.^(B)

¹³ For this reason take up the full armor^(A) of God, so that you may be able to resist^(B) in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. ¹⁴ Stand,^(C) therefore, with truth^(D) like a belt around your waist, righteousness^(E) like armor on your chest,^{(F) 15} and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In every situation take up the shield^(G) of faith^(H) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.^{(I) 17} Take the helmet^(J) of salvation and the sword^(K) of the Spirit^(L)—which is the word of God.

4 So then, my dearly loved and longed for brothers and sisters, my joy and crown,^(A) in this manner stand firm^(B) in the Lord, dear friends.

¹⁵ So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm^(A) and hold to the traditions you were taught,^(B) whether by what we said or what we wrote.