My friends: I myself feel sure that you are full of goodness, that you have all knowledge, and that you are able to teach one another.

That is why I wrote that letter to you---I did not want to come to you and be made sad by the very people who should make me glad. For I am convinced that when I am happy, then all of you are happy too.

How happy I am that I can depend on you completely!

So we are sending our brother with them; we have tested him many times and found him always very eager to help. And now that he has so much confidence in you, he is all the more eager to help.

But I still feel confident about you. Our life in union with the Lord makes me confident that you will not take a different view and that whoever is upsetting you will be punished by God.

And so I am sure that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it on until it is finished on the Day of Christ Jesus.

I am sure, as I write this, that you will do what I ask---in fact I know that you will do even more.

Our friends, we command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to keep away from all believers who are living a lazy life and who do not follow the instructions that we gave them.

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we command these people and warn them to lead orderly lives and work to earn their own living.

and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age."

Some people keep on doing good, and seek glory, honor, and immortal life; to them God will give eternal life.

I will be bold and speak only about what Christ has done through me to lead the Gentiles to obey God. He has done this by means of words and deeds,

For whether or not a man is circumcised means nothing; what matters is to obey God's commandments.

If anyone supposes he is God's messenger or has a spiritual gift, he must realize that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command.

I wrote you that letter because I wanted to find out how well you had stood the test and whether you are always ready to obey my instructions.

And so his love for you grows stronger, as he remembers how all of you were ready to obey his instructions, how you welcomed him with fear and trembling.

So then, dear friends, as you always obeyed me when I was with you, it is even more important that you obey me now while I am away from you. Keep on working with fear and trembling to complete your salvation,

Finally, our friends, you learned from us how you should live in order to please God. This is, of course, the way you have been living. And now we beg and urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to do even more.

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

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.