For we know, brothers so beloved by God, that He has chosen you,

for our preaching of the good news came to you not entirely in words but with power and with the Holy Spirit and with absolute certainty (for you know the kind of men we were among you for your own sakes).

For you know yourselves, brothers, that our visit to you was by no means a failure.

for since we have been so approved by God as to be entrusted with the good news, we are now telling it, not to please men but God, who proves and finds approved our hearts.

for you know how, as a father deals with his children, we used to encourage you, cheer you on, and charge each of you

Now we, brothers, on our part, when we were separated from you for a little while -- in person but not in heart -- were extremely eager and intensely longing to see you.

so that none of you might be deceived amid these difficulties. For you knew yourselves that this is our appointed lot,

for when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we were going to be pressed with difficulties, and it took place, as you know.

That was why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for I was afraid that the tempter had tempted you and our labor might be lost.

But now, since Timothy has just come back to me from you, and brought me good tidings of your faith and love, and told me how kindly you remembered me and that you are longing to see me as much as I am to see you,

for now I am really living, since you are standing firm in the Lord.

Now may our God and Father Himself and our Lord Jesus guide my way to you!

Now, brothers, we ask and beg you, in the face of our union with the Lord Jesus, as you once received from us how you ought to live so as to please God -- as indeed you are living -- to continue to live this life better and better.

not out of evil passions as the heathen do who do not know God;

that no one should do wrong and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord takes vengeance for all such things, as we told you before and solemnly warned you.

Now as to brotherly love, you have no need of anyone's writing you, for you have yourselves been taught by God to love one another,

Also we do not want you to have any misunderstanding, brothers, about those who are falling asleep, so as to keep you from grieving over them as others do who have no hope.

For on the Lord's own authority we say that those of us who may be left behind and are still living when the Lord comes back, will have no advantage at all over those who have fallen asleep.

But as to times and dates, brothers, you have no need of anyone's writing you,

for you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the Lord is coming like a thief in the night.

When people say, "Such peace and security!" then suddenly destruction falls upon them, like birth pains upon a woman who is about to become a mother, but they shall not escape, no, not at all.