For the Lord’s message rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out. Therefore, we don’t need to say anything,

For you yourselves know, brothers, that our visit with you was not without result.

We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers. Working night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God’s gospel to you.

This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the message about God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the message of God, which also works effectively in you believers.

For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, since you have also suffered the same things from people of your own country, just as they did from the Jews

hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. As a result, they are always completing the number of their sins, and wrath has overtaken them at last.

so that no one will be shaken by these persecutions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.

In fact, when we were with you, we told you previously that we were going to suffer persecution, and as you know, it happened.

For this reason, when I could no longer stand it, I also sent him to find out about your faith, fearing that the tempter had tempted you and that our labor might be for nothing.

But now Timothy has come to us from you and brought us good news about your faith and love and reported that you always have good memories of us, wanting to see us, as we also want to see you.

Finally then, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you must walk and please God—as you are doing—do so even more.

For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality,

so that each of you knows how to control his own body in sanctification and honor,

so that you may walk properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone.

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.

Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.

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

But you, brothers, are not in the dark, for this day to overtake you like a thief.

who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.

See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.

I charge you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers.