So that ye became examples to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.

For the word of the Lord sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia; but also in every place your faith towards God is spread abroad, so that we have no need to say any thing of it.

For ye yourselves, brethren, know our entrance among you, that it was not in vain.

For ye remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for working night and day, that we might not be burthensome to any of you, we preached among you the gospel of God.

Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and unblameably we behaved towards you that believe:

and charged you, that ye should walk worthy of God, who hath called you to his kingdom and glory.

For this also we thank God continually, that when ye received the word of God, which ye heard from us, ye received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which also worketh effectually in you that believe.

For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God, which are in Judea, in Christ Jesus, in that ye also have suffered the same things from your own countrymen, as they have from the Jews:

forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, thus going on to fill up their sins perpetually: but wrath is coming upon them to extremity.

that no one might be shaken by these afflictions: for ye yourselves know that we are appointed hereunto.

For when we were with you, we told you before that we should be afflicted, as it came to pass, and ye know.

But now Timothy being come back to us from you, and having brought us good tidings concerning your faith and love, and that ye have always a good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we indeed do to see you;

night and day most ardently praying, that we may see your face, and perfect whatever is wanting in your faith?

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

As to what remains therefore, my brethren, we intreat and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received instructions from us, how ye ought to walk and to please God, ye would abound therein more and more.

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification: that ye should abstain from fornication,

and that every one of you should possess his vessel in sanctification and honor,

That no one over-reach, or wrong his brother in any thing: because the Lord is an avenger of all such crimes, as we also told you before, and testified to you.

But as to brotherly love, ye need not that I write unto you; for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

And indeed ye do it to all the brethren, that are in all Macedonia; but we exhort you, brethren, to abound in it more and more:

as we gave you in charge, that ye may walk decently toward those that are without, and may have need of no one's assistance.

But I would not have you ignorant, my brethren, concerning those that are fallen asleep, that ye may not be grieved like others who have no hope:

for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also those, that sleep in Jesus, will God bring with Him.

For this we tell you in the word of the Lord, that we who shall be living and remain to the coming of the Lord, shall not be before those that are asleep.

for ye yourselves know full well, that the day of the Lord cometh like a thief in the night.

But ye, my brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should seize you as a thief:

for they, that sleep, sleep in the night; and drunkards are drunk in the night:

who died for us, that whether we be awake, or asleep, we may live together with Him.

And we entreat you, brethren, to respect those that labour among you, and preside over you in the Lord, and instruct you;

See that no one render evil for evil to any man; but always pursue that which is good, both to each other and to all men.

yet try all things, and hold fast that which is good.

And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly: and grant that your whole frame, spirit, soul, and body may be kept blameless to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

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