You are witnesses??nd so is God??ow pure and just and blameless was my behavior among you believers.

For you, brothers, began to follow the example of the churches of God in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus; and you in your turn suffered at the hands of your fellow citizens persecutions like to those which they endured from the Jews??15 The men who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out??hey are displeasing to God, and are the enemies of all mankind.

For you are my pride and my delight.

So that no one should be shaken by these troubles??or you know well that we are appointed to troubles.

But now that Timothy has returned from you to me, and has brought good news of your faith and love, and that you are still holding me in affectionate remembrance, always longing to see me as I also am longing to see you.

For now I am really living, if you are standing firm in the Lord.

Finally then, my brothers, I continue to beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you learned of me how to walk so as to please God??nd you are actually doing so??hat you abound in it yet more and more.

So that your conduct may be seemly toward those that are without, and that you may not need help from any man.

But I would not have you ignorant, brothers, about those who are falling asleep. You must not sorrow like other men, who have no hope.

For this I tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are living, who survive unto the coming of the Lord, will in no wise precede those who have fallen asleep.

And afterwards we who are alive, who remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

While men are saying "Peace and safety," then, like birth-pangs upon a woman with child, destruction will come upon them suddenly. In no wise will they escape.

But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that "the Day" should come upon you like a bandit.

For you are all sons of light, and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness.

For those who are sleeping, sleep in the night, and those who are drunken, are drunken in the night.

But let us who are of the day be self-controlled, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.

He died for us, in order that whether we are keeping vigil in life or sleeping in death we may ever be living together with him.

So comfort one another, and try to build one another up, as indeed you are doing.

I entreat you, brothers, to acknowledge those who are toiling among you and are your leaders in the Lord, and give you counsel.