We thank God constantly for this too, that when you received the word of the divine message from us, you took it not as a human word but for what it really is, the word of God. It proves effective in you believers,

then, amid all my own distress and trouble, I was cheered ??this faith of yours encouraged me.

not to gratify sensual passion like the Gentiles in their ignorance of God ??6 no one is to defraud or overreach his brother in this matter, for the Lord avenges all these sins, as we told you already in our solemn protest against them.

hence, he who disregards this, disregards not man but the God who gave you his holy Spirit.

as indeed is your practice towards all the brothers throughout all Macedonia. We beseech you, brothers, to excel in this more and more;

He who calls you is faithful, he will do this.

I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read aloud to all the [holy] brothers.