how that our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; even as ye know what manner of men we showed ourselves toward you for your sake.

so that ye became an ensample to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.

For from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth; so that we need not to speak anything.

For yourselves, brethren, know our entering in unto you, that it hath not been found vain:

For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

Ye are witnesses, and God also , how holily and righteously and unblameably we behaved ourselves toward you that believe:

to the end that ye should walk worthily of God, who calleth you into his own kingdom and glory.

And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, even the word of God, ye accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe.

forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always: but the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

that no man be moved by these afflictions; for yourselves know that hereunto we are appointed.

For verily, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

For this cause I also, when I could no longer forbear, sent that I might know your faith, lest by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor should be in vain.

But when Timothy came even now unto us from you, and brought us glad tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, even as we also to see you;

night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk, --that ye abound more and more.

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

that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

that no man transgress, and wrong his brother in the matter: because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified.

Therefore he that rejecteth, rejecteth not man, but God, who giveth his Holy Spirit unto you.

But concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another;

for indeed ye do it toward all the brethren that are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, that ye abound more and more;

and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your hands, even as we charged you;

that ye may walk becomingly toward them that are without, and may have need of nothing.

But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep.

then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you.

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

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

For they that sleep sleep in the night: and they that are drunken are drunken in the night.

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

But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

See that none render unto any one evil for evil; but always follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all.

prove all things; hold fast that which is good;

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

I adjure you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the brethren.

We are bound to give thanks to God always to you, brethren, even as it is meet, for that your faith growth exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all toward one another aboundeth;

so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which ye endure;

which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God; to the end that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

if so be that it is righteous thing with God to recompense affliction to them that afflict you,

and to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire,

rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus:

when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at in all them that believed (because our testimony unto you was believed) in that day.

To which end we also pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfil every desire of goodness and every work of faith, with power;

that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

to the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand;

he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God.

Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

And now ye know that which restraineth, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season.

For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way.

and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie:

that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even as also it is with you;

and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for all have not faith.

And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command.

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which they received of us.

neither did we eat bread for nought at any man's hand, but in labor and travail, working night and day, that we might not burden any of you:

not because we have not the right, but to make ourselves and ensample unto you, that ye should imitate us.

For we hear of some that walk among you disorderly, that work not at all, but are busybodies.

Now them that are such we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

And if any man obeyeth not our word by this epistle, note that man, that ye have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.

As I exhorted thee to tarry at Ephesus, when I was going into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge certain men not to teach a different doctrine,

But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully,

as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and unruly, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

I thank him that enabled me, even Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he counted me faithful, appointing me to his'service;

Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief:

howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me as chief might Jesus Christ show forth all his longsuffering, for an ensample of them that should thereafter believe on him unto eternal life.

This charge I commit unto thee, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which led the way to thee, that by them thou mayest war the good warfare;

of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I delivered unto Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.

I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men;

for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity.

I desire therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing.

In like manner, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefastness and sobriety; not with braided hair, and gold or pearls or costly raiment;

one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

For they that have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,

through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron;

forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth.

for bodily exercise is profitable for a little; but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come.

For to this end we labor and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of them that believe.

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity.

Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

Be diligent in these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress may be manifest unto all.

Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee.

Honor widows that are widows indeed.

Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, hath her hope set on God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

But she that giveth herself to pleasure is dead while she liveth.

These things also command, that they may be without reproach.

I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, give no occasion to the adversary for reviling:

If any woman that believeth hath widows, let her relieve them, and let not the church be burdened; that it mat relieve them that are widows indeed.

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.

Them that sin reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear.

I charge thee in the sight of God, and Christ Jesus, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality.

In like manner also there are good works that are evident; and such as are otherwise cannot be hid.

Let as many as are servants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine be not blasphemed.