We always thank God for you all when we mention you in our prayers,

for we can never forget before our God and Father your energetic faith, your loving service, and your unwavering expectation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For we know, brothers whom God so loves, that he has chosen you,

for our preaching of the good news did not come to you as mere words but with power and the holy Spirit and full conviction??ou know the kind of life we lived among you for your good.

And you followed the example set by us and by the Lord, for though our message brought you great trouble, you welcomed it with joy inspired by the holy Spirit,

For the Lord's message has rung out from you not only over Macedonia and Greece, but the story of your belief in God has gone everywhere, so that we never need to mention it.

For when people speak of us, they tell what a welcome you gave us, and how you turned from idols to God, to serve a true and living God,

and to wait for the coming from heaven of his Son, whom he raised from the dead??esus, our deliverer from God's coming wrath.

You know yourselves, brothers, that our visit to you was far from ineffectual.

For our appeal does not rest on a delusion, nor spring from any impure motive; there is no fraud about it.

We never used flattery, as you know, or found pretexts for making money, as God is our witness.

That was the kind of affection we had for you, which made us ready to share with you not only God's good news but our own lives too, because you were so dear to us.

We for our part constantly thank God for another reason too??ecause when you received God's message from our lips, you welcomed it not as the message of men but as the message of God, as it really is, which does its work in the hearts of you believers.

For you, brothers, followed the example of God's churches in Judea that are in union with Christ Jesus, for you in your turn had to bear the same ill-treatment from your neighbors as they did from the Jews,

For our part, brothers, when we were separated from you for a little while??n person, though not in spirit??e were extremely eager and longed intensely to see you.

For we resolved to come to see you??, Paul, did so again and again??ut Satan held us back.

For what hope or happiness shall we have or what prize to be proud of in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes, except you?

for when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we were going to have trouble, and it came true, as you know.

That was why, when I could not bear it any longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for I was afraid that the tempter might have tempted you and all our labor might be lost.

for now I can really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.

For how can I thank God enough for you, for all the happiness you make me feel in the presence of our God,

May the Lord make your love for one another and for all men wide and full like my love for you,

For you remember what instructions we gave you on the authority of the Lord Jesus.

that each of you learn to take a wife for himself from pure and honorable motives,

No one is to wrong or defraud his brother in this matter, for the Lord avenges all such things, as we told you before, in the most solemn terms.

You do not need to have anyone write to you about brotherly love, for you have yourselves been taught by God to love one another,

We do not want you to be under any misapprehension, brothers, about those who are falling asleep. You must not grieve for them, as others do who have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then by means of Jesus God will bring back with him those who have fallen asleep.

For we can assure you, on the Lord's own authority, that those of us who will still be living when the Lord comes will have no advantage over those who have fallen asleep.

For the Lord himself, at the summons, when the archangel calls and God's trumpet sounds, will come down from heaven, and first those who died in union with Christ will rise;

for you yourselves know perfectly well that the Day of the Lord is to come like a thief in the night.

For those who sleep sleep at night and those who get drunk do so at night,

but we who belong to the day must be composed, wearing faith and love for a coat of mail, and helmeted with the hope of salvation.

For God has not destined us for his wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

who died for us so that whether we are still alive or fall asleep we may live with him.

Hold them in the highest esteem and affection for what they do. Live at peace with one another.

Take care that none of you ever pays back evil for evil, but always try to treat one another and everybody with kindness.

Thank God whatever happens. For this is what God through Christ Jesus wants you to do.

Brothers, pray for us.