But you, brothers and sisters, ¹  are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would.

For God did not destine us for wrath ¹  but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath. ¹ 

with such affection for you ¹  we were happy ²  to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

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.

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 ¹  but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

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

And so ¹  we too constantly thank God that when you received God’s message that you heard from us, ²  you accepted it not as a human message, ³  but as it truly is, God’s message, which is at work among you who believe.

in that ¹  our gospel did not come to you merely in words, ²  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). ³ 

For people everywhere ¹  report how you welcomed us ²  and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God

Finally then, brothers and sisters, ¹  we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us about how ²  you must live and please God (as you are in fact living) ³  that you do so more and more.