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Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.
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because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.
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The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it,
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Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica
You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results.
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For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.
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On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.
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You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness.
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We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.
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so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.
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Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.
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You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.
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And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.
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Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians
But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.
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For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?
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So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.
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We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
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so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them.
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For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.
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Timothy’s Encouraging Report
But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.
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Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.
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For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.
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Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
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Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.
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Living to Please God
As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.
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It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;
