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because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake.(A)

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13 We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers.(A)

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12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look!(A)

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For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not irresponsible when we were with you,(A) and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day so that we might not burden any of you.(B) This was not because we do not have that right but in order to give you an example to imitate.(C)

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14 For this purpose he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.(A)

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20 And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it.[a]]]

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Footnotes

  1. 16.20 Other ancient authorities add Amen

I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ,[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 2.2 Other ancient authorities read of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ

The Fruit of the Spirit

22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,(A) 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

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The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard?(A) Are you so foolish? Having started with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh?(B) Did you experience so much for nothing?—if it really was for nothing.(C) Well then, does God[a] supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law or by your believing what you heard?

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Footnotes

  1. 3.5 Gk he

For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were made not with persuasive words of wisdom[a] but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power,(A) so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

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Footnotes

  1. 2.4 Other ancient authorities read the persuasiveness of wisdom

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters. 17 Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.[a](A) 18 In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave birth to us by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 1.17 Other ancient authorities read variation due to a shadow of turning

18 so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us.(A) 19 We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain,(B)

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11 And we want each one of you to show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end,(A)

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how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? It was declared at first through the Lord, and it was confirmed for us by those who heard him,(A) while God added his testimony by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to his will.(B)

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10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.(A)

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Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel,

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As for the things that you have learned and received and heard and noticed in me, do them, and the God of peace will be with you.(A)

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20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine,(A)

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20 For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power.

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The Power of the Gospel

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is God’s saving power for everyone who believes,[a] for the Jew first and also for the Greek.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 1.16 Or trusts

10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble.

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A Living Hope

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead(A)

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12 Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.(A) 13 Until I arrive, give attention to the public reading of scripture,[a] to exhorting, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.(B) 15 Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 4.13 Gk to the reading

Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition.(A) For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, but, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals but to please God, who tests our hearts.(B) As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed,(C) nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others,(D) though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle[a] among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.

You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.(E) 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers.(F) 11 As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children,

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Footnotes

  1. 2.7 Other ancient authorities read infants

13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

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