because we know brethren beloved of God, how that ye are elect.

Ye are witnesses, and so is God, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

For ye brethren became followers of the congregations of God which in Jewry are in Christ Jesus: for ye have suffered like things of your kinsmen, as we ourselves have suffered of the Jews,

which as they killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, even so have they persecuted us, and God they please not, and are contrary to all men:

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?

Yea, ye are our glory and joy.

that no man should be moved in these afflictions. For ye yourselves know that we are even appointed thereunto.

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

But as touching brotherly love, ye need not that I write unto you. For ye are taught of God to love one another.

Yea, and that thing verily ye do unto all the brethren, which are throughout all Macedonia. We beseech you brethren that ye increase, more and more,

that ye may behave yourselves honestly toward them that are without and that nothing be lacking unto you.

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

And this say we unto you in the word of the Lord, that we which live and are remaining in the coming of the Lord, shall not come before they which sleep.

But ye brethren are not in darkness, that that day should come on you as it were a thief.

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, neither of darkness.

For they that sleep, sleep in the night: and they that be drunken, are drunken 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.

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