fain, in our yearning affection for you, to impart not only the gospel of God to you but our very souls as well ??you had so won our love.

You are witnesses, with God, how holy and upright and free from all evil was our way of life among you who have faith;

to live lives [of honor, moral courage, and personal integrity] worthy of the God who [saves you and] calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

But when Timothy came even now unto us from you, and brought us glad tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, even as we also to see you;

For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

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

Finally, believers, we ask and admonish you in the Lord Jesus, that you follow the instruction that you received from us about how you ought to walk and please God (just as you are actually doing) and that you excel even more and more [pursuing a life of purpose and living in a way that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation].

For this is God's will--your purity of life, that you abstain from fornication;

God has not called us to an unclean life, but to one of purity.

But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

For indeed you already do practice it toward all the believers throughout Macedonia [by actively displaying your love and concern for them]. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, that you excel [in this matter] more and more,

and to make it your ambition to live quietly and peacefully, and to mind your own affairs and work with your hands, just as we directed you,

so that you may live decently toward those outside, and may have need of nothing.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again [from the dead], [we also believe] that God will bring [back to life], along with Jesus, those in [fellowship with] Him who have fallen asleep [in death].

And this say we unto you in the word of the Lord, that we which live and are remaining in the coming of the Lord, shall not come before they which sleep.

For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the [blast of the] trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

then shall we which live and remain, be caught up with them also in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord.

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

In every circumstance of life be thankful; for this is God's will in Christ Jesus respecting you.

We are bound to give thanks to God always to you, brethren, even as it is meet, for that your faith growth exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all toward one another aboundeth;

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

to this he has called you, to a life of glory with our Lord Jesus Christ.

and may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and our God and Father, who did love us, and did give comfort age-during, and good hope in grace,

And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

But, by the authority of the Lord, we command you, brethren, to stand aloof from every brother whose life is disorderly and not in accordance with the teaching which all received from us.

For you yourselves are used to taking us as your example, because our life among you was ruled by order,

For we hear that there are some of you who live disorderly lives and are mere idle busybodies.

These words of love to you at the end are in my writing, Paul's writing, and this is the mark of every letter from me.

[This letter is from] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus our hope [of never ending life. See Titus 3:7].

Or to give attention to stories and long lists of generations, from which come questionings and doubts, in place of God's ordered way of life which is in faith;

But the end of the charge is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned:

With the knowledge that the law is made, not for the upright man, but for those who have no respect for law and order, for evil men and sinners, for the unholy and those who have no religion, for those who put their fathers or mothers to death, for takers of life,

sexually immoral people, practicing homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, perjurers -- in fact, for any who live contrary to sound teaching.

And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

holding on to [your] faith and a good conscience. Some people have rejected these things, resulting in the "shipwreck" of their faith [i.e., their spiritual life was ruined].

Well, my very first counsel is that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving, are to be offered for all men ??2 for kings and all in authority, that we may lead a tranquil life in all piety and gravity;

For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

but she shall be saved through her child-bearing, if they continue in faith and love and sanctification with sobriety.

Now an overseer must be blameless and beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

He must not drink excessively or be a violent person, but instead be gentle. He must not be argumentative or love money.

but if I delay, that thou may know how it is necessary to live in a house of God, which is a congregation of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

Put all this before the Brethren, and you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, sustained by the precepts of the Faith and of that Good Teaching by which you have guided your life.

But you should have nothing to do with those worldly myths [See 1:4] and superstitious tales [often] told by old women. Instead, train yourself for living a godly life.

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity.

Think on these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress.

Pay close attention to your life and your teaching. Persevere in these things, because if you do so, you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.

But the life of a widow who is devoted to pleasure is a living death.

Press these facts upon them, so that they may live lives free from reproach.

But to the younger widows say No: for when their love is turned away from Christ, they have a desire to be married;

Never ordain any one hastily, and take no part in the wrong-doing of others. Keep your life pure.

He has an over-high opinion of himself; being without knowledge, having only an unhealthy love of questionings and wars of words, from which come envy, fighting, cruel words, evil thoughts,

themselves to temptations and snares, and to many foolish noxious passions, which plunge men into ruin and perdition. for the love of money is the root of all evil:

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

I charge thee in the sight of God, who giveth life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession;

to observe these precepts, to lead an unspotted life without reproof until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Who only has life for ever, living in light to which no man may come near; whom no man has seen or is able to see: to whom be honour and power for ever. So be it.

Give orders to those who have money and goods in this life, not to be lifted up in their minds, or to put their hope in the uncertain chances of wealth, but in God who gives us in full measure all things for our use;

Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

The reason I am reminding you [of these things] is so that you will rekindle the gift from God, which is in your life through the laying on my hands. [Note: This "gift" was probably his ordination to serve as an evangelist (See 4:1-5), and in addition, may have included a supernatural "spiritual gift" bestowed by the apostle Paul].

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

for He delivered us and saved us and called us with a holy calling [a calling that leads to a consecrated life—a life set apart—a life of purpose], not because of our works [or because of any personal merit—we could do nothing to earn this], but because of His own purpose and grace [His amazing, undeserved favor] which was granted to us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago],

But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Be ready to do without the comforts of life, as one of the army of Christ Jesus.

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:

But flee youthful lusts, and follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

they may come to their senses again and escape the snare of the devil, as they are brought back to life by God to do his will.

without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, of unsubdued passions, savage, having no love for what is good,

treacherous, headstrong, self-important. They will love pleasure instead of loving God,

and will keep up a make-believe of piety and yet live in defiance of its power. Turn away from people of this sort.

But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

All Scripture is inspired by God [Note: Literally, this word means "breathed out by God"] and is useful for teaching [truth], rebuking [wrongdoing], correcting [error] and for providing instruction [i.e., training] on how to live right,

But as for you, you must exercise habitual self-control, and not live a self-indulgent life, but do the duty of an evangelist and fully discharge the obligations of your office.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure [from this world] is at hand and I will soon go free.

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

for Demas, having loved [the pleasures of] this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

Give my love to Prisca and Aquila and those of the house of Onesiphorus.

Do your best to come before the winter. Eubulus sends you his love, and Pudens and Linus and Claudia, and all the brothers.

Paul a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and for their knowledge of the Truth that goes with a religious life,

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

wherever there is a man of blameless life, true to his one wife, having children who are themselves believers and are free from every reproach of profligacy or of stubborn self-will.

For, as God's steward, a minister must be of blameless life, not over-fond of having his own way, not a man of a passionate temper nor a hard drinker, not given to blows nor greedy of gain,

On the contrary, he should be hospitable, eager for the right discreet, upright, a man of holy life and capable of self-restraint,

One of their very own prophets said, "Liars ever, men of Crete, savage brutes that live to eat."

that aged men be temperate, grave, sober-minded, sound in faith, in love, in patience:

That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, good oeconimists, beneficent, submissive to their husbands,

In a similar way urge the young men to be sensible and self-controlled and to behave wisely [taking life seriously].

and above all make your own life a pattern of right conduct, having in your teaching no taint of insincerity, but a serious tone,

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

who [willingly] gave Himself [to be crucified] on our behalf to redeem us and purchase our freedom from all wickedness, and to purify for Himself a chosen and very special people to be His own possession, who are enthusiastic for doing what is good.