Study Desk

so that you became an example to all those who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia,

for from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything.

You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and righteously and blamelessly we became to you who believe,

hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles in order that they may be saved, so that they always fill up their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the end.

so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed for this,

so that your hearts may be established blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

so that you may live decently toward those outside, and may have need of nothing.

Now we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you will not grieve as also the rest, who have no hope.

But you, brothers, are not in the darkness, so that the day should catch you like a thief,

So then, we must not sleep like the rest, but must be on the alert and be self-controlled.

who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live at the same time with him.

so that we ourselves boast in you in the churches of God about your patient endurance and faith in all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are enduring,

a proof of the righteous judgment of God, so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, on behalf of which also you are suffering,

who opposes and who exalts himself over every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits down in the temple of God, proclaiming that he himself is God.

And you know that which restrains him now, so that he will be revealed in his own time.

For the mystery of lawlessness is at work already; only the one who now restrains will do so until he is out of the way,

and with every unrighteous deception against those who are perishing, in place of which they did not accept the love of the truth, so that they would be saved.

And because of this, God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie,

So then, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions which you were taught, whether by spoken word or by letter from us.

not that we do not have the right, but so that we may give ourselves as an example to you, so that you may imitate us.