1 & 2 Thessalonians, Titus & Philemon

Paul's two letters to the Thessalonians are deeply personal. Although he was encouraged by their faith, hope, and love, Paul was still mindful of their vulnerability. So he wrote to build their spiritual muscles, helping them live faithfully while awaiting Christ's return. Full of encouragement and exhortation, their prophetic insights will keep you focused on what is truth as we look to Christ alone to be our faithful strength—no matter how difficult the future may appear.

The book of Titus reminds us that right beliefs should impact every area of our lives—relationships, work, community—for right living always accompanies right doctrine. In today's culture, we need this prophetic reminder that the grace that saves us is the same grace that empowers us to live a life of good works!

Finally, Philemon is a letter written with one purpose: to bring reconciliation between two brothers in Christ. We should be grateful to God for gifting us this letter because the dignity of every human being is brought forth powerfully in the story of Philemon and Onesimus—a story of forgiving love.What treasures are found in the pages of these letters! They will leave you richer in your spiritual life and empower you to persevere until the day Jesus returns in glory.

DR. BRIAN SIMMONS is the lead translator of The Passion Translation®. The Passion Translation (TPT) is a heart-level translation that uses Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic manuscripts to express God's fiery heart of love to this generation, merging the emotion and life-changing truth of God's Word. The hope for TPT is to trigger inside every reader an overwhelming response to the truth of the Bible and to reveal the deep mysteries of the Scriptures in the love language of God, the language of the heart. Brian is currently translating the Old Testament.

After a dramatic conversion to Christ in 1971, Brian and his wife, Candice, answered the call of God to leave everything behind and become missionaries to unreached peoples. Taking their three children to the tropical rain forest of Central America, they planted churches for many years with the Paya-Kuna people group. Dr. Simmons established leadership for the churches that Jesus birthed, and, having been trained in linguistics and Bible translation principles, assisted with the translation of the Paya-Kuna New Testament.

After their ministry overseas, Brian and Candice returned to North America, where Brian began to passionately work toward helping people encounter the risen Christ. He and his wife planted numerous ministries, including a dynamic church in New England (U.S.). They also established Passion & Fire Ministries, under which they travel full time as Bible teachers in service of local churches throughout the world.

Brian is the author of numerous books, Bible studies, and devotionals that help readers encounter God's heart and experience a deeper revelation of God as our Bridegroom King, including Throne Room Prayer, The Sacred Journey, Prayers on Fire, The Divine Romance, and The Vision.

Brian and Candice have been married since 1971 and have three children as well as precious grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Their passion is to live as loving examples of a spiritual father and mother to this generation.