for our preaching of the good news did not come to you as mere words but with power and the holy Spirit and full conviction??ou know the kind of life we lived among you for your good.

For the Lord's message has rung out from you not only over Macedonia and Greece, but the story of your belief in God has gone everywhere, so that we never need to mention it.

For our appeal does not rest on a delusion, nor spring from any impure motive; there is no fraud about it.

That was the kind of affection we had for you, which made us ready to share with you not only God's good news but our own lives too, because you were so dear to us.

You remember, brothers, how we toiled and labored. We worked night and day, when we preached the good news to you, in order not to be a burden to any of you.

We for our part constantly thank God for another reason too??ecause when you received God's message from our lips, you welcomed it not as the message of men but as the message of God, as it really is, which does its work in the hearts of you believers.

For our part, brothers, when we were separated from you for a little while??n person, though not in spirit??e were extremely eager and longed intensely to see you.

So when I could not bear it any longer, I made up my mind to stay behind alone at Athens,

and encourage you not to be led astray, any of you, in all these troubles. You know yourselves that this is what we must expect,

That was why, when I could not bear it any longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for I was afraid that the tempter might have tempted you and all our labor might be lost.

as I pray night and day with intense earnestness that I may see your faces and supply what is lacking in your faith?

not to gratify his passion, like the heathen who know nothing of God.

God has not called us to an unclean life, but to a pure one.

So whoever disregards this is not disregarding man, but God, who gives you his holy Spirit.

You do not need to have anyone write to you about brotherly love, for you have yourselves been taught by God to love one another,

so that you may have the respect of the outsiders, and not be dependent upon anybody.

We do not want you to be under any misapprehension, brothers, about those who are falling asleep. You must not grieve for them, as others do who have no hope.

But as to times and dates, brothers, you do not need to have anyone write to you,

for you yourselves know perfectly well that the Day of the Lord is to come like a thief in the night.

But you are not in darkness, brothers, so that that Day should surprise you like thieves.

You all belong to the light and the day. We have nothing to do with night or with darkness.

So we must not sleep like other men, but we must be vigilant and composed.

For those who sleep sleep at night and those who get drunk do so at night,

For God has not destined us for his wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Do not stifle the Spirit.

Do not disregard the utterances it inspires,