2 1:2We thank God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 1:3remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ before God even our Father, 1:4knowing, brothers beloved by God, your election, 1:5that our gospel came not to you in word only, but with power and with the Holy Spirit and with full assurance, as you know what we were among you for your sakes.
3 1:6And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 1:7so that you became an example to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 1:8For from you the word of the Lord was proclaimed not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith with respect to God went into every place, so that we had no need to say any thing; 1:9for they declare of us what introduction we had to you, and how you turned from idols to God, to serve the living and true God, 1:10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.
4 2:1For you know, brothers, our introduction to you that it was not in vain, 2:2but having suffered before, and been injuriously treated, as you know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God with much contention. 2:3For our exhortation was not of error, nor of impurity, nor with deceit, 2:4but as we were judged worthy by God to be intrusted with the gospel so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tries our hearts. 2:5For we used at no time a word of flattery, as you know, nor a pretext for covetousness, God is witness, 2:6neither did we seek glory of men, either of you or of others, when we might have been burdensome as apostles of Christ; 2:7but we were gentle among you, as a nurse would cherish her own children; 2:8so being greatly desirous of you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but our own souls, because you were dear to us. 2:9For you remember, brothers, our labor and weariness; that working night and day not to be burdensome to any one of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. 2:10You are witnesses, and God, how piously, and righteously, and blamelessly we were with you that believe, 2:11as you know how we exhorted and comforted you, as a father each one of his own children, 2:12and charged you to walk worthily of God who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
5 2:13For this cause also we thank God without ceasing, that receiving the word of God heard from us, you received not a word of men, but, as it is in truth, a word of God, who also works in you that believe. 2:14For you, brothers, became followers of the churches of God in Christ Jesus which were in Judea, for you also suffered the same things from your countrymen, which they did from the Jews 2:15who also killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and persecuted us, and who please not God and are hostile to all men, 2:16forbidding us to speak to the gentiles that they may be saved, that they may fill up their sins always; and the wrath has come on them to the utmost.
6 2:17But we, brothers, being deprived of you for a short time in presence, not in heart, used greater diligence to see your face, with much desire. 2:18For which reason we wished to come to you; I Paul indeed once and again, and Satan hindered us. 2:19For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you before our Lord Jesus at his coming? 2:20For you are our glory and joy.
7 3:1When therefore we could no longer refrain, we thought it best to be left alone at Athens, 3:2and sent Timothy, our brother and God's co-laborer in the gospel of Christ, to confirm you and to exhort you in behalf of your faith, 3:3that no one should be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed for this; 3:4for indeed when we came to you, we told you before that we were about to suffer affliction, as it also happened, and you know. 3:5For this reason, being no longer able to forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest in some way the tempter should have tempted you, and our labor be in vain.
8 3:6But now Timothy having come to us from you and told us the good news of your faith and love, and that you have a good remembrance of us always, desiring to see us, as we also you, 3:7therefore we were comforted, brothers, on your account in all our affliction and distress by your faith, 3:8for now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord. 3:9For what thanksgiving can we render to God for you for all the joy with which we rejoice on your account before our God, 3:10desiring exceedingly, night and day, to see your face, and to perfect what is lacking of your faith?
9 3:11And may God himself, even our Father, and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you; 3:12and the Lord cause you to be full and abound with love one to another and to all men, as we also to you, 3:13to confirm your hearts without blame in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.