so that ye became models for all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

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.

FOR ye yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in to you, that it was not in vain.

For ye remember, brethren, our labour and toil: for night and day working hard, that we might be no burden to any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and faultlessly we conducted ourselves among you that believe:

that ye should walk worthy of God, as calling you into his kingdom and glory.

For this cause do we also give thanks to God unceasingly, because when ye received the word reported by us from God, ye received it not as the word of man, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which worketh also effectually in you that believe.

forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, that they might be saved, to fill up the measure of their iniquities always: but wrath is coming upon them to the extremity.

and sent Timothy our brother, and a minister of God, and our fellow-labourer in the gospel of Christ, that he might stablish you, and comfort you concerning your faith:

that no man might be shaken by these tribulations; for ye yourselves know that thereunto we are appointed.

For when we were with you, we told you before that we were about to suffer tribulation; as also it came to pass, and ye know.

But now when Timothy returned to us from you, and brought us the glad tidings of your faith and love, and that ye retain a kind remembrance of us always, earnestly desirous to see us, as we are also to see you:

night and day most fervently praying that we may see your face, and amply supply the deficiencies of your faith?

to the end that your hearts may be established blameless in holiness before God and our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

FINALLY, brethren, we beseech you therefore, and conjure you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk, and please God, so ye would abound more and more.

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from whoredom;

that every one of you may know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honour,

that no man transgress against, or act dishonestly to his brother in this matter because the Lord is the avenger of all such things, as we have told you before, and testified.

Therefore he that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit.

And indeed ye practise it towards all the brethren that are throughout Macedonia: but we conjure you, brethren, to abound more and more;

and that you make it your study to live peaceably, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we have enjoined you;

that ye walk becomingly towards those without, and need no assistance from any person.

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are fallen asleep, that ye be not afflicted, as the rest [of mankind] who have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again, so also those that have fallen asleep for Jesus shall God bring with him.

For this I say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent those who are fallen asleep.

NOW concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I should write to you:

for yourselves know precisely that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you as a thief.

who died for us, that whether we sleep, or whether we wake, we may live together with him.

See that no man return evil for evil to any man; but always pursue that which is good, both towards one another, and towards all men.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

I conjure you by the Lord, that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.