and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be among you for your sake.

And you yourselves began to follow, not only our example, but the Master's also; and, in spite of much suffering, you welcomed the Message with a joy inspired by the Holy Spirit,

For from you the word of the Lord has been declared, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone out; so that we do not need to say anything.

For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance to you, that it was not in vain: But even after we had suffered before,

but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we grew bold in our God to tell you the Good News of God in much conflict.

But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts.

[And] we were not looking for honor from people, either from you or from anyone else, even though, as apostles of Christ, we could have become a burden [to you]. [Note: The idea seems to be that the apostles could have claimed financial support, but chose not to].

But we were like children among you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

Even so, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you, not the Good News of God only, but also our own souls, because you had become very dear to us.

For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe.

who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men,

forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always. But wrath has come on them to the uttermost.

But we, brothers, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence, not in heart, tried even harder to see your face with great desire,

because we wanted to come to you?indeed, I, Paul, once and again?but Satan hindered us.

For what is my hope, or joy? What is the victor's wreath in which I exult? What but your own selves in the presence of our Lord Jesus, at his coming!

But when I could stand it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith. I was afraid that the tempter had tempted you in some way, and that our work had been a waste of time.

But when Timothy came just now to us from you, and brought us glad news of your faith and love, and that you have good memories of us always, longing to see us, even as we also long to see you;

But our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.

But you, may the Lord make to exceed and abound in love toward one another, and toward all, even as we also towards you,

And last of all, the prayer which we make to you from our heart and in the name of the Lord Jesus, is this: that as we made clear to you what sort of behaviour is pleasing to God, as in fact you are doing now, so you will go on in these ways, but more and more.

For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification.

Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you.

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;

But we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you do not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.

But concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you.

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.

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

so then let us not sleep, as the rest do, but let us watch and be sober.

But let us, since we belong to the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and, for a helmet, the hope of salvation.

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we may live together with him.

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

But we exhort you, brethren - admonish the disorderly, soothe them of little soul, help the weak, be longsuffering towards all:

See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good, for one another, and for all.

but test all things; hold firmly that which is good.

But, the God of peace himself, hallow you completely, and, entire, might your spirit, and soul, and body, - so as to be unblameable in the Presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, - be preserved!