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

For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judaea in Christ Jesus: for ye also suffered the same things of your own countrymen, even as they did of the Jews;

who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove out us, and pleased not God, and are contrary to all men;

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even ye, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?

For ye are our glory and our joy.

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.

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;

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

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.

When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape.

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

for ye are all sons of light, and sons of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness;

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

But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.

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