He who calls you is trustworthy, and he will in fact do this.

exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you live in a way worthy of God who calls you to his own kingdom and his glory.

And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we do for you,

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who labor among you and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you,

in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

I call on you solemnly in the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.

in that our gospel did not come to you merely in words, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction (surely you recall the character we displayed when we came among you to help you).

Finally then, brothers and sisters, we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us about how you must live and please God (as you are in fact living) that you do so more and more.

As a result you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, about our coming to you – it has not proven to be purposeless.

As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his own children,

For we wanted to come to you (I, Paul, in fact tried again and again) but Satan thwarted us.

For in fact when we were with you, we were telling you in advance that we would suffer affliction, and so it has happened, as you well know.

For this is God’s will: that you become holy, that you keep away from sexual immorality,

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would.

But although we suffered earlier and were mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of much opposition.

For how can we thank God enough for you, for all the joy we feel because of you before our God?

Now may God our Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you.

Consequently the one who rejects this is not rejecting human authority but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

And indeed you are practicing it toward all the brothers and sisters in all of Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,