knowing as we do, brethren, that you are beloved by God and that He has chosen you.

But as God tested and approved us before entrusting us with His Good News, so in what we say we are seeking not to please men but to please God, who tests and approves our motives.

For, as you are well aware, we have never used the language of flattery nor have we found pretexts for enriching ourselves--God is our witness;

You yourselves are witnesses--and God is witness--how holy and upright and blameless our dealings with you believers were.

For you, brethren, followed the example of the Churches of God in Christ Jesus which are in Judaea; seeing that you endured the same ill-treatment at the hands of your countrymen, as they did at the hands of the Jews.

Those Jewish persecutors killed both the Lord Jesus and the Prophets, and drove us out of their midst. They are displeasing to God, and are the enemies of all mankind;

Yes, you are our glory and our joy.

that none of you might be unnerved by your present trials: for you yourselves know that they are our appointed lot.

For even when we were with you, we forewarned you, saying, "We are soon to suffer affliction;" and this actually happened, as you well know.

But now that Timothy has recently come back to us from you, and has brought us the happy tidings of your faith and love, and has told us how you still cherish a constant and affectionate recollection of us, and are longing to see us as we also long to see you--

For now life is for us life indeed, since you are standing fast in the Lord.

For this we declare to you on the Lord's own authority--that we who are alive and continue on earth until the Coming of the Lord, shall certainly not forestall those who shall have previously passed away.

Afterwards we who are alive and are still on earth will be caught up in their company amid clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

While they are saying "Peace and safety!" then in a moment destruction falls upon them, like birth-pains on a woman who is with child; and escape there is none.

But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that daylight should surprise you like a thief;

for all of you are sons of Light and sons of the day. We belong neither to the night nor to darkness.

who died on our behalf, so that whether we are awake or are sleeping we may share His Life.

Now we beg you, brethren, to show respect for those who labour among you and are your leaders in Christian work, and are your advisers;