For from you sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only into Macedonia and Achaia, but into every region also your fidelity towards God is gone out, so that we have no need to say any thing.

to live lives [of honor, moral courage, and personal integrity] worthy of the God who [saves you and] calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Therefore a defiant spirit in such a case provokes not man but God, who puts His Holy Spirit into your hearts.

For we say this to you by the Lord’s [own] word, that we who are still alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede [into His presence] those [believers] who have fallen asleep [in death].

Then we who are still living will be taken up together with them into the clouds to see the Lord in the air: and so will we be for ever with the Lord.

For God appointed us not into wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

God, who calls you [into His fellowship] is faithful; He will also do [what He promises].