Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, just as you are in fact doing.

and to esteem them most highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

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

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!

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

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

He died for us so that whether we are alert or asleep we will come to life together with him.

And so we too constantly thank God that when you received God’s message that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human message, but as it truly is, God’s message, which is at work among you who believe.

From Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to you!

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.

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

See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.

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.