Study Desk

For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of mere men, but as what it really is, the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe.

For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews,

But we, brothers and sisters, having been orphaned from you by absence for a short while—in person, not in spirit—were all the more eager with great desire to see your face.

For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and Satan hindered us.

For who is our hope, or joy or crown of pride, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Or is it not indeed you?

For you are our glory and joy.

and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you for the benefit of your faith,

so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we have been destined for this.

For even when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it happened, as you know.

For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be for nothing.

for this reason, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith;

for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.

For what thanks can we give to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice because of you before our God,

and may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;

For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

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

For God has not called us for impurity, but in sanctification.

Now as to the love of the brothers and sisters, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;

for indeed you practice it toward all the brothers and sisters who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to excel even more,

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.