Study Desk

because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with great conviction-just as you know we lived among you for your sake.

For not only did the message of the Lord ring out from you to Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone out to every place, so that we have no need to say anything more.

For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God

For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.

As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!

On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.

For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children.

For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus. You suffered from your own countrymen the very things they suffered from the Jews,

Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense.

For we wanted to come to you-indeed I, Paul, tried again and again-but Satan obstructed us.

so that none of you would be shaken by these trials. For you know that we are destined for this.

For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted you and caused our labor to be in vain.

For this reason, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we have been reassured about you, because of your faith.

For now we can go on living, as long as you are standing firm in the Lord.

How can we adequately thank God for you in return for our great joy over you in His presence?

And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows,

For you know the instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

For it is God's will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality;

For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness.

For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.