Study Desk

But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.

For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness--God is witness.

So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;

that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans,

who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men,

and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,

For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God,

Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.

so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;

not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;

For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.

Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given [fn] us His Holy Spirit.

But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. [fn]