But since we are of the day, we must stay sober <i>by putting on the breastplatei><n id="1" /> of faith and love and as <i>a helmeti> our hope <i>for salvationi>.<n id="2" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">But when we were separated from you, brothers and sisters,<n id="1" /> for a short time (in presence, not in affection)<n id="2" /> we became all the more fervent in our great desire<n id="3" /> to see you in person.<n id="4" />

And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we do for you,

Then we who are alive, who are left,<n id="1" /> will be suddenly caught up<n id="2" /> together<n id="3" /> with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

<p class="bodytext">But now Timothy has come<n id="1" /> to us from you and given us the good news of your faith and love and that you always think of us with affection<n id="2" /> and long to see us just as we also long to see you!<n id="3" />

For we tell you this by the word of the Lord,<n id="1" /> that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep.

And so<n id="1" /> we too constantly thank God that when you received God&#8217;s message that you heard from us,<n id="2" /> you accepted it not as a human message,<n id="3" /> but as it truly is, God&#8217;s message, which is at work among you who believe.