PAUL’S CONDUCT

2 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our visitz with you was not without result. 2 On the contrary, after we had previously sufferedaa and were treated outrageously in Philippi,ab as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition. 3 For our exhortation didn’t come from error or impurityac or an intent to deceive.ad 4 Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrustedae with the gospel,af so we speak, not to please people, but rather God,ag who examines our hearts.ah 5 For we never used flattering speech, as you know, or had greedyai motivesaj—God is our witnessak—6 and we didn’t seek gloryal from people, either from you or from others. 7 Although we could have been a burden as Christ’s apostles,am instead we were gentleE among you, as a nurseF nurtures her own children. 8 We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9 For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers and sisters. Workingan night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God’s gospel to you. 10 You are witnesses,ao and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously,ap and blamelesslyaq we conducted ourselves with you believers. 11 As you know, like a father with his own children,ar 12 we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God,as who calls you into his own kingdomat and glory.au

RECEPTION AND OPPOSITION TO THE MESSAGE

13 This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is,av the word of God,aw which also works effectively in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea,ax since you have also suffereday the same things from people of your own country,az just as they did from the Jews 15 who killed the Lord Jesusba and the prophets and persecuted us.bb They displease God and are hostile to everyone, 16 by keeping us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. As a result, they are constantly filling up their sins to the limit,bc and wrath has overtaken them at last.A

PAUL’S DESIRE TO SEE THEM

17 But as for us, brothers and sisters, after we were forced to leave youB for a short time (in person, not in hearta), we greatly desired and made every effort to returnb and see you face to face. 18 So we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satanc hindered us. 19 For who is our hope or joyd or crowne of boastingf in the presence of our Lordg Jesus at his coming?h Is it not you?i 20 Indeed you are our gloryj and joy!

ANXIETY IN ATHENS

3 Therefore, when we could no longer stand it, we thought it was better to be left alone in Athens.k 2 And we sent Timothy,l our brother and God’s coworkerC in the gospel of Christ,m to strengthen and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 so that no one will be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we told you in advance that we were going to experience affliction, and as you know, it happened. 5 For this reason, when I could no longer stand it, I also sent him to find out about your faith, fearing that the tempter had tempted you and that our labor might be for nothing.

ENCOURAGED BY TIMOTHY

6 But now Timothy has come to usn from you and brought us good news about your faith and love. He reported that you always have good memories of us and that you long to see us, as we also long to see you.o 7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and affliction, we were encouraged about you through your faith. 8 For now we live, if you stand firmp in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God for you in return for all the joyq we experience before our God because of you, 10 as we pray very earnestly night and day to see you face to facer and to complete what is lacking in your faith?s

PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH

11 Now may our God and Fathert himself, and our Lord Jesus,u direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with lovev for one anotherw and for everyone, just as we do for you. 13 May he make your hearts blamelessx in holinessy before our God and Father at the comingz of our Lordaa Jesus with all his saints. Amen.A

THE CALL TO SANCTIFICATION

4 Additionally then, brothers and sisters, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received instruction from us on how you should live and please God—as you are doingB—do this even more. 2 For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

3 For this is God’s will,ab your sanctification:ac that you keep awayad from sexual immorality, 4 that each of you knows how to control his own bodyC in holiness and honor, 5 not with lustful passions,ae like the Gentiles, who don’t know God. 6 This means one must not transgress against and take advantageaf of a brother or sister in this manner, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses, as we also previously told and warned you. 7 For God has not called us to impurityag but to live in holiness. 8 Consequently, anyone who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.ah

LOVING AND WORKING

9 About brotherly love: You don’t need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by Godai to love one another.aj 10 In fact, you are doing this toward all the brothers and sisters in the entire region of Macedonia.ak But we encourage you, brothers and sisters, to do this even more, 11 to seek to lead a quiet life,al to mind your own business,D and to workam with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 so that you may behave properlyan in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone.E,ao

THE COMFORT OF CHRIST’S COMING

13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.ap 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and roseaq again,ar in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.as 15 For we say this to you by a word from the Lord:at We who are still alive at the Lord’s comingau will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.av 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout,F,a with the archangel’sb voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christc will rise first. 17 Thend we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the cloudse to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourageG one another with these words.