Study Desk

so that you became a pattern to all the believers throughout Macedonia and Greece.

For it was not only from you that the Master's Message sounded forth throughout Macedonia and Greece; but everywhere your faith in God has become known, so that it is unnecessary for us to say anything about it.

But as God tested and approved us before entrusting us with His Good News, so in what we say we are seeking not to please men but to please God, who tests and approves our motives.

For you remember, brethren, our labour and toil: how, working night and day so as not to become a burden to any one of you, we came and proclaimed among you God's Good News.

for they still try to prevent our preaching to the Gentiles so that they may find salvation. They thus continually fill up the measure of their own sins, and God's anger in its severest form has overtaken them.

On this account we wanted to come to you--at least I Paul wanted again and again to do so--but Satan hindered us.

So when we could endure it no longer, we decided to remain behind in Athens alone;

Thus He will build up your characters, so that you will be faultlessly holy in the presence of our God and Father at the Coming of our Lord Jesus with all His holy ones.

Moreover, brethren, as you learnt from our lips the lives which you ought to live, and do live, so as to please God, we beg and exhort you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live them more and more truly.

and indeed you do love all the brethren throughout Macedonia. And we exhort you to do so more and more,

so as to live worthy lives in relation to outsiders, and not be a burden to any one.

And so we shall be with the Lord for ever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

So then let us not sleep, like the rest of the world, but let us keep awake and be sober.

who died on our behalf, so that whether we are awake or are sleeping we may share His Life.

It so increases that we ourselves make honourable mention of you among the Churches of God because of your patience and faith amid all your persecutions and amid the afflictions which you are enduring.

in order that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and that you may be glorified in Him--so wonderful is the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ!

and exalts himself above, every so-called `god' or object of worship, and goes the length of taking his seat in the very temple of God, giving it out that he himself is God.

The appearing of the Lawless one will be attended by various miracles and tokens and delusive marvels--for so Satan works--

and by every kind of wicked deception for those who are on the way to perdition because they did not welcome into their hearts the love of the truth, so that they might be saved.

To this blessing God has called you by our Good News, so that you may have a share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.