Because our good news came to you, not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Spirit, so that you were completely certain of it; even as you saw what our behaviour to you was like from our love to you.

For not only was the word of the Lord sounding out from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God is made clear; so that we have no need to say anything.

But after we had first undergone much pain and been cruelly attacked as you saw, at Philippi, by the help of God we gave you the good news without fear, though everything was against us.

But even as the good news was given to us by the approval of God, so we give it out; not as pleasing men, but God by whom our hearts are tested.

But we were gentle among you, like a woman caring for her little ones:

Even so, being full of loving desire for you, we took delight in giving you not only God's good news, but even our lives, because you were dear to us.

And for this cause we still give praise to God, that, when the word came to your ears through us, you took it, not as the word of man, but, as it truly is, the word of God, which has living power in you who have faith.

Who, to make the measure of their sins complete, kept us from giving the word of salvation to the Gentiles: but the wrath of God is about to come on them in the fullest degree.

But we, my brothers, being away from you for a short time, in body but not in heart, had all the more desire to see your face;

For which reason we made attempts to come to you, even I, Paul, once and again; but Satan kept us from coming.

But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has given us good news of your faith and love, and that you have happy memories of us, desiring greatly to see us, even as we do to see you;

And last of all, the prayer which we make to you from our heart and in the name of the Lord Jesus, is this: that as we made clear to you what sort of behaviour is pleasing to God, as in fact you are doing now, so you will go on in these ways, but more and more.

Because it is God's purpose that our way of life may be not unclean but holy.

Whoever, then, goes against this word, goes against not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

But about loving the brothers, there is no need for me to say anything to you in this letter: for you have the teaching of God that love for one another is right and necessary;

And, truly, you are lovers of all the brothers in Macedonia; but it is our desire that your love may be increased still more;

But it is our desire, brothers, that you may be certain about those who are sleeping; so that you may have no need for sorrow, as others have who are without hope.

But about the times and their order, my brothers, there is no need for me to say anything to you.

But you, my brothers, are not in the dark, for that day to overtake you like a thief:

So then, let us not take our rest as the others do, but let us be self-controlled and awake.

But let us, who are of the day, be serious, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and on our heads, the hope of salvation.

For God's purpose for us is not wrath, but salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

But we make this request to you, my brothers: give attention to those who are working among you, who are over you in the Lord to keep order among you;

Let no one give evil for evil; but ever go after what is good, for one another and for all.