For this reason we have always prayed for you, ever since we heard about you. We ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will, with all the wisdom and understanding that his Spirit gives.

It was not only his coming that cheered us, but also his report of how you encouraged him. He told us how much you want to see me, how sorry you are, how ready you are to defend me; and so I am even happier now.

For this reason, ever since I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God's people,

Now Timothy has come back, and he has brought us the welcome news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always think well of us and that you want to see us just as much as we want to see you.

I was so happy when some Christians arrived and told me how faithful you are to the truth---just as you always live in the truth.

Nothing makes me happier than to hear that my children live in the truth.

For when we are in union with Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor the lack of it makes any difference at all; what matters is faith that works through love.

For we remember before our God and Father how you put your faith into practice, how your love made you work so hard, and how your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ is firm.

There is no need to write you about love for each other. You yourselves have been taught by God how you should love one another.

And you have, in fact, behaved like this toward all the believers in all of Macedonia. So we beg you, our friends, to do even more.

Our friends, we must thank God at all times for you. It is right for us to do so, because your faith is growing so much and the love each of you has for the others is becoming greater.

For I hear of your love for all of God's people and the faith you have in the Lord Jesus.

Through him you believe in God, who raised him from death and gave him glory; and so your faith and hope are fixed on God.

For through the living and eternal word of God you have been born again as the children of a parent who is immortal, not mortal.

We know that we have left death and come over into life; we know it because we love others. Those who do not love are still under the power of death.

What he commands is that we believe in his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as Christ commanded us.

And we ourselves know and believe the love which God has for us. God is love, and those who live in love live in union with God and God lives in union with them.

God is not unfair. He will not forget the work you did or the love you showed for him in the help you gave and are still giving to other Christians.