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.

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.

We had just been through ill-treatment and insults at Philippi, as you remember, but, in the face of great opposition, we took courage by the help of our God, and told you God's good news.

God has thought us fit to be intrusted with the good news, and so we tell it, making no effort to please men, but to please God, who tests our hearts.

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.

try to keep us from speaking to the heathen so that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But God's wrath has overtaken them at last!

But now that Timothy has just come back to me from you, and brought me good news of your faith and love, and told me how kindly you think of me and that you long to see me just as much as I long to see you,

God has not called us to an unclean life, but to a pure one.

So whoever disregards this is not disregarding man, but God, who gives you his holy Spirit.

and you are doing it to all the brothers all over Macedonia. But we do entreat you, brothers, to surpass yourselves

But as to times and dates, brothers, you do not need to have anyone write to you,

But you are not in darkness, brothers, so that that Day should surprise you like thieves.

So we must not sleep like other men, but we must be vigilant and composed.

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,

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

but test them all, retaining what is good