But when we were separated from you, brothers and sisters, for a short time (in presence, not in affection) we became all the more fervent in our great desire to see you in person.

We pray earnestly night and day to see you in person and make up what may be lacking in your faith.

We thank God always for all of you as we mention you constantly in our prayers,

We know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,

although we could have imposed our weight as apostles of Christ; instead we became little children among you. Like a nursing mother caring for her own children,

that each of you know how to possess his own body in holiness and honor,

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

For from you the message of the Lord has echoed forth not just in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place reports of your faith in God have spread, so that we do not need to say anything.

But now Timothy has come to us from you and given us the good news of your faith and love and that you always think of us with affection and long to see us just as we also long to see you!

nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others,

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

So in all our distress and affliction, we were reassured about you, brothers and sisters, through your faith.

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

to aspire to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own business, and to work with your hands, as we commanded you.

with such affection for you we were happy to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

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

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

because we recall in the presence of our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

For you recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery: By working night and day so as not to impose a burden on any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and encourage you about your faith,