We are giving thanks unto God continually, concerning you all, making, mention, in our prayers,

We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen,

so that you are an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

For they themselves are reporting concerning us what kind of reception we had among you, and how ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God,

And are now awaiting the return from Heaven of his Son whom he raised from the dead--Jesus, our deliverer from the Coming Wrath.

For you yourselves, brothers, are conscious that our coming among you was not without effect:

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.

Indeed, we never resorted to flattery, as you are well aware, nor to any pretext for making money; God is our witness.

so being desirous of you, we are well-pleased to impart to you not only the good news of God, but also our own souls, because beloved ye have become to us,

You are witnesses with God, how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who 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,

For another reason too, we, as far as we are concerned, are constantly giving thanks to God; that is, when you received the message you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the message of men but as the message of God, as it really is, which keeps on working in you who believe.

For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus; for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews;

who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and did not please 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!

Forasmuch, brethren, as we are kept from you for a season, as concerning the bodily presence - but not in the heart - we enforced the more to see you personally with great desire,

For what is our hope or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not ye it in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

For you are our glory and our joy.

that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task.

For truly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even as it happened, and you know.

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 this reason we are comforted concerning you, brethren, in all our distress and affliction, by your faith:

For now are we alive if ye stand steadfast in the Lord.

for what thanks are we able to recompense to God for you, for all the joy with which we do joy because of you in the presence of our God?

Night and day, making very abundant entreaties, that we may see your face, and fit in the things which are lacking in your faith?

And for you, may the Lord fill you to overflowing with love for one another and for every one, just as we are filled with love for you;

so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Finally then, brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to live and to please God, even as you are living, that you excel more and more.

For you are aware of the instructions which we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

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

But concerning brotherly love, you have no need that one write to you. For you yourselves are taught by God to love one another,

for indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, that you abound more and more;

that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing.

I would not, brethren, have you ignorant concerning them which are fallen asleep, that ye sorrow not as others do which have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left to the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep.

then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.

For when they are saying, "Peace and safety," then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman; and they will in no way escape.

But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.

You are all children of light, and children of the day. We do not belong to the night, nor to darkness,

For those who sleep, sleep in the night, and those who are drunk are drunk in the night.

But let us which are of the day be sober, armed with the breast plate of faith and love, and with hope of salvation as a helmet.

who died for us in order that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.

So then, encourage one another and build each other up, as you are doing.

But we beg you, brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you,

and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you, And to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake, and 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.

in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

I give orders in the name of the Lord that all the brothers are to be present at the reading of this letter.