Brothers, whom God loves, we know that he has chosen you,

And so became a pattern to all who believed in Christ throughout Macedonia and Greece.

And are now awaiting the return from Heaven of his Son whom he raised from the dead--Jesus, our deliverer from the Coming Wrath.

But, having been found worthy by God to be entrusted with the Good News, therefore we tell it; with a view to please, not men, but God who proves our hearts.

You will bear witness, and God also, that our relations with you who believed in Christ were pure, and upright, and beyond reproach.

So that you should make your daily lives worthy of God who is calling you into the glory of his Kingdom.

This, too, is a reason why we, on our part, are continually thanking God--because, in receiving the teaching that you had from us, you accepted it, not as the teaching of man, but as what it really is--the teaching of God, which is even now doing its work within you who believe in Christ.

The men who killed both the Lord Jesus and the Prophets, and persecuted us also. They do not try to please God, and they are enemies to all mankind,

And not for the mere gratification of his passions, like the Gentiles who know nothing of God;

None of you over-reaching or taking advantage of his Brother in such matters. 'The Lord takes vengeance' upon all who do such things, as we have already warned you and solemnly declared.

Therefore he who disregards this warning disregards, not man, but God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

We do not wish you to remain in ignorance, Brothers, with regard to those who have passed to their rest, that your grief may not be like that of others, who have no hope.

For, as we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring, with Jesus, those who through him have passed to their rest.

This we tell you on the authority of the Lord--that those of us who are still living at the Coming of the Lord will not anticipate those who have passed to their rest.

Then those who died in union with Christ shall rise first; and afterwards we who are still living shall be caught up in the clouds, with them, to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall be for ever with the Lord.

But let us, who belong to the Day, control ourselves, and put on faith and love as a breast plate, and the hope of Salvation as a helmet.

For God destined us, not for Wrath, but to win Salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us,

We beg you, Brothers, to value those who toil among you, and are your leaders in the Lord's service, and give you counsel.

He who calls you will not fail you; he will complete his work.