For we know, brethren beloved by God, that he has chosen you;

for our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we have no need to say anything.

For you yourselves know, brethren, that our visit to you was not in vain;

but after we had already suffered and been shamefully treated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in the face of great opposition.

For, as you know, we never used flattery nor a pretext for greed God is witness

for you know how, as a father with his own children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you

Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone,

so that no one would be unsettled by these afflictions. You yourselves know that we have been destined for this.

For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know.

For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain.

But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, just as we long to see you

for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.

Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you;

For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

that each one of you know how to take his own spouse for himself in holiness and honor,

not in the passion of lust like the heathen, who do not know God;

and that no man transgress and wrong his brother in this matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.

Now concerning love of the brethren you have no need to have any one write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another;

But we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.

Now as to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need to have anything written to you.

For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.