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.

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.

For who is our hope or joy or crown to boast of before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not of course you?

In this matter no one should violate the rights of his brother or take advantage of him, because the Lord is the avenger in all these cases, as we also told you earlier and warned you solemnly.

For the appeal we make does not come from error or impurity or with deceit,

For we never appeared with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed – God is our witness –

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,

For you are our glory and joy!

For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness.

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

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with 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.

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).

For people everywhere report how you welcomed us and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God

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,

so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

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

You are witnesses, and so is God, as to how holy and righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you who believe.