for the gospel we brought did not come to you in words only, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with deep conviction. Indeed, you know what kind of people we proved to be while we were with you, acting on your behalf.

From you the word of the Lord has spread out not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place where your faith in God has become known. As a result, we do not need to say anything about it.

For you yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a waste of time.

For our appeal to you does not spring from deceit, impure motives, or trickery.

Rather, because we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, we speak as we do, not trying to please people but God, who tests our motives.

As you know, we did not come with flattering words or with a scheme to make money. God is our witness!

We did not seek praise from people from you or from anyone else

We cared so deeply for you that we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but our very lives. That is how dear you were to us.

Brothers, you remember our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not become a burden to any of you while we proclaimed the gospel of God to you.

Here is another reason why we constantly give thanks to God: When you received God's word, which you heard from us, you did not accept it as the word of humans but for what it really is the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.

Brothers, although we have been separated from you for a little while in person but not in heart we eagerly desire to see you again face to face.

We pray very hard night and day that we may see you again face to face, so that we may equip you with whatever is lacking in your faith.

not with passion and lust like the gentiles who do not know God.

For God did not call us to be impure, but to be holy.

Therefore, whoever rejects this instruction is not rejecting human authority but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

Now you do not need anyone to write to you about brotherly love, since you have been taught by God to love each other.

so that you may win the respect of outsiders, and have need of nothing.

But we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve like other people who have no hope.

Now you do not need to have anything written to you about times and dates, brothers,

for you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

When people say, "There is peace and security," destruction will strike them as suddenly as labor pains come to a pregnant woman, and they will not be able to escape.

However, brothers, you are not in the darkness, in order that the Day of the Lord might surprise you like a thief.

For all of you are children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to darkness.

Therefore, let's not fall asleep like others do, but let's stay awake and be sober.

For people who go to sleep, go to sleep at night; and people who get drunk, get drunk at night.

For God has not destined us to receive wrath but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,

Do not put out the Spirit's fire.

Do not despise prophecies.