Being conscious, my brothers, dear to God, that you have been marked out by God's purpose;

because our good news did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance, even as ye have known of what sort we became among you because of you,

So that you became an example to all those who have faith in Christ in Macedonia and Achaia.

for the word of the Lord sounded out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith which is towards God has gone abroad, so that we have no need to say anything;

For they themselves proclaim of us what entrance we have to you, and how ye turned to God from images to serve the living and true God;

For yourselves have known, brethren, our entrance in unto you, that it did not become vain,

but having both suffered before, and having been injuriously treated (as ye have known) in Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the good news of God in much conflict,

but even as we have been approved of God to be intrusted with the gospel, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God who proveth our hearts.

For we have not at any time been among you with flattering discourse, even as ye know, nor with a pretext for covetousness, God is witness;

Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

but have been gentle in the midst of you, as a nurse would cherish her own children.

So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

For ye remember, brethren, our labour and toil: working night and day, not to be chargeable to any one of you, we have preached to you the glad tidings of God.

Ye are witnesses, and God, how piously and righteously and blamelessly we have conducted ourselves with you that believe:

even as ye have known, how each one of you, as a father his own children, we are exhorting you, and comforting, and testifying,

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.

For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

as they try to keep us from telling the gentiles how they can be saved. As a result, they are constantly adding to the number of sins they have committed. However, wrath has overtaken them at last!

But we, brethren, having been bereaved of you and separated for a little moment in person, not in heart, have used more abundant diligence to see your face with much desire;

Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

For what hope or joy will be ours, or what crown shall we have to boast of, in the presence of our Lord Jesus, at his Coming, if it be not you?

At last our desire to have news of you was so strong that, while we ourselves were waiting at Athens,

that no one be moved in these tribulations, for yourselves have known that for this we are set,

for even when we were with you, we said to you beforehand, that we are about to suffer tribulation, as also it did come to pass, and ye have known it;

For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:

for this reason we have been comforted in you, brethren, in all our distress and tribulation, through your faith,

How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we have in God's presence because of you?

Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

for ye have known what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus,

that each one should know how to have his wife in purity and honor,

not [to be used] in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God and are ignorant of His will;

That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

But concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another;

and that you make it your study to live peaceably, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we have enjoined you;

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

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus has died and has risen again, so also God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.

(For this we say to you in the word of the Lord, that we, the living, who remain to the coming of the Lord, are in no way to anticipate those who have fallen asleep;

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.

Therefore, comfort one another with what I have told you.

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

for yourselves have known thoroughly that the day of the Lord as a thief in the night doth so come,

For you all are 'Sons of Light' and 'Sons of the Day.' We have nothing to do with night, or darkness.

Who was put to death for us, so that, awake or sleeping, we may have a part in his life.

So then, go on comforting and building up one another, as you have been doing.

But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction,

And have a high opinion of them in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

We desire you brethren warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble minded, forbear the weak, have continual patience toward all men.

Have joy at all times.

God, by whom you have been marked out in his purpose, is unchanging and will make it complete.

I solemnly charge you by the Lord to have this letter read before all the congregation.

May you have unearned favor and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We always have to thank God for you, brothers, as it is right that we should, because your faith is growing so wonderfully and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.

So much is this the case that we ourselves speak with pride, before the Churches of God, of the patience and faith which you have shown, in spite of all the persecutions and troubles that you are enduring.

Which is a clear sign of the decision which God in his righteousness has made; to give you a part in his kingdom, for which you have undergone this pain;

He will come in flames of fire to take vengeance on those who have no knowledge of God, and do not obey the Good News as to Jesus, our Lord.

when he shall have come to be glorified in his saints, and wondered at in all that have believed, (for our testimony to you has been believed,) in that day.

For this reason, you are ever in our prayers, that you may seem to our God such as may have a part in his purpose and that by his power he will make all his good purpose, and the work of faith, complete;

So that glory may be given to the name of our Lord Jesus through you, and you may have glory in him, by the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

not readily to become unsettled in mind or troubled--either by any pretended spiritual revelation or by any message or letter claiming to have been sent by us--through fancying that the day of the Lord is now here.

Let not any one deceive you in any manner, because it will not be unless the apostasy have first come, and the man of sin have been revealed, the son of perdition;

Have you no memory of what I said when I was with you, giving you word of these things?

and now, what is keeping down ye have known, for his being revealed in his own time,

and in all deceit of unrighteousness to them that perish, because they have not received the love of the truth that they might be saved.

that all might be judged who have not believed the truth, but have found pleasure in unrighteousness.

But it is right for us to give praise to God at all times for you, brothers, loved by the Lord, because it was the purpose of God from the first that you might have salvation, being made holy by the Spirit and by faith in what is true:

To this blessing God has called you by our Good News, so that you may have a share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.

Now we command you, believers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by His authority, that you withdraw and keep away from every brother or sister who leads an undisciplined life and does not live in accordance with the tradition and teaching that you have received from us.

For ye know yourselves how ye ought to imitate us, because we have not walked disorderly among you;

nor have we eaten bread from any one without cost; but in toil and hardship working night and day not to be chargeable to any one of you:

Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

For even when we were with you we gave you orders, saying, If any man does no work, let him not have food.

We have heard say, no doubt, that there are some which walk among you inordinately, and work not at all, but are busybodies.

And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

Have no feeling of hate for him, but take him in hand seriously as a brother.

[It is being sent] to Timothy, my true son in the faith [i.e., in the realm of Christianity, not in a physical sense]. May you have unearned favor, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

wanting to be teachers of the Law [of Moses], even though they do not understand the terms they use or the subjects about which they make [such] confident declarations.

and we have known that the law is good, if any one may use it lawfully;

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,

for the sexually immoral, for men who have sexual relations with men, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;

according to the glad tidings of the glory of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

I have thanks for Him Who empowered me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He accounted me faithful, putting me into His service,

But for this reason I was given mercy, so that in me, the chief of sinners, Jesus Christ might make clear all his mercy, as an example to those who in the future would have faith in him to eternal life.

Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

For kings and all those in authority; so that we may have a calm and quiet life in all fear of God and serious behaviour.

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

to which I have been appointed a herald and apostle, (I speak the truth, I do not lie,) a teacher of the nations in faith and truth.

So then I would have the men everywhere pray, lifting to God holy hands which are unstained with anger or strife;

and I would have the women dress becomingly, with modesty and self-control, not with plaited hair or gold or pearls or costly clothes,

But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness.

But she [i.e., womankind] will be saved [from condemnation, in spite of the "curse" of suffering pain] through childbearing [See Gen. 3:16], provided they [i.e., all women] continue to have faith and love and holiness, along with discretion.

Faithful is the saying, "If any one is eager to have the oversight of a Church, he desires a noble work."