But although we suffered earlier and were mistreated in Philippi, ¹  as you know, we had the courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God ²  in spite of much opposition.

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

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 

Consequently the one who rejects this is not rejecting human authority ¹  but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

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

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

We ¹  sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God ²  in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and encourage you about your faith,

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

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, ¹  to acknowledge those who labor among you and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you,

because they hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they constantly fill up their measure of sins, ¹  but wrath ²  has come upon them completely. ³ 

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.

We pray earnestly night and day to see you in person ¹  and make up what may be lacking in your faith.

He died ¹  for us so that whether we are alert or asleep ²  we will come to life together with him.

But when we were separated from you, brothers and sisters, ¹  for a short time (in presence, not in affection) ²  we became all the more fervent in our great desire ³  to see you in person. ⁴ 

Now we do not want you to be uninformed, ¹  brothers and sisters, ²  about those who are asleep, ³  so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope.

So ¹  when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter somehow tempted you and our toil had proven useless.

For from you the message of the Lord ¹  has echoed forth not just in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place reports of your faith in God have spread, ²  so that we do not need to say anything.

And indeed you are practicing it toward all the brothers and sisters ¹  in all of Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, ² 

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