Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

² You do good things because you believe. You work very hard because you have love in your hearts. You are patient because you have hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. We remember these things when we talk to God our Father about you.

³ My brothers, God loves you and we know that he has chosen you.

⁴ The good news we brought you was not just words. It had power. It had the Holy Spirit. It made people very sure it was true. And you also know how we lived when we were with you to help you.

⁵ You tried hard to be like us and like the Lord. You had much trouble because you believed our message. Yet the Holy Spirit made you very happy.

⁶ You have shown all the Christians in the countries of Macedonia and Greece how they should live.

⁷ People in Macedonia and Greece have heard from you the message about the Lord. And people everywhere have heard that you believe in God. So there is no need for us to write about your faith.

⁸ They tell us how glad you were to see us. They tell us about how you left your idols and turned to God. You worship the God who is the living and true God.

⁹ And you wait for his Son to come again from heaven. God raised his Son Jesus from death. It is Jesus who saves us from God's great anger which is to come.