how that our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; even as ye know what manner of men we showed ourselves toward you for your sake.

for from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God did go forth, so that we have no need to say anything,

so was our affection toward you. Our good will was to have dealt unto you, not the gospel of God only: but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

For you remember, believers, our labor and hardship. We worked night and day [practicing our trade] in order not to be a [financial] burden to any of you while we proclaimed the gospel of God to you.

Ye are witnesses, and God also , how holily and righteously and unblameably we behaved ourselves toward you that believe:

You know how I was wont to treat each of you as a father treats his children,

because of this, brothers, we were encouraged toward you in all our affliction and necessity through your faith.

And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

[We also urge you to] make it your aim to live a quiet life, and to attend to your own business matters, and to work with your hands, as we urged you. [Note: Possibly this exhortation was directed toward the tendency of some people there to neglect ordinary responsibilities in view of an imminent return of Christ].

That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

See that none render unto any one evil for evil; but always follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all.

In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.

Do not treat prophecies with contempt.