We oughtalwaysto give thanksto Godfor you, brethren,as is [only] fitting,becauseyour faithis greatly enlarged,and the loveof eachoneof you towardone anothergrows [ever] greater;
"Nevertheless the righteouswill holdto his way,And he who has cleanhandswill growstrongerand stronger.
They gofrom strengthto strength,[Every one of them] appearsbeforeGodin Zion.
Plantedin the houseof the LORD,They will flourishin the courtsof our God.
But the pathof the righteousis like the lightof dawn,That shinesbrighterand brighteruntilthe fullday.
But we hadto celebrateand rejoice,for thisbrotherof yourswas deadand [has begun] to live,and [was] lostand has been found.'"
The apostlessaidto the Lord,"Increaseour faith!"
"Everybranchin Me that does not bearfruit,He takes away;and every[branch] that bearsfruit,He prunesit sothat it may bearmorefruit.
First,I thankmy GodthroughJesusChristfor you all,becauseyour faithis being proclaimedthroughoutthe wholeworld.
I thankmy Godalwaysconcerningyou for the graceof Godwhich was givenyou in ChristJesus,
not boastingbeyond[our] measure,[that] [is], in other men'slabors,but with the hopethat as your faithgrows,we will be, withinour sphere,enlargedevenmoreby you,
alwaysgiving thanksfor all thingsin the nameof our LordJesusChristto God,eventhe Father;
For it is onlyrightfor me to feelthis wayaboutyou all,becauseI haveyou in my heart,since bothin my imprisonmentand in the defenseand confirmationof the gospel,you allare partakersof gracewith me.
And thisI pray,that your lovemay aboundstillmoreand morein real knowledgeand alldiscernment,
and may the Lordcauseyou to increaseand aboundin lovefor one another,and for all people,justas we also[do] for you;
But nowthat Timothyhas cometo us from you, and has brought us good newsof your faithand love,and that you alwaysthinkkindlyof us, longingto seeus justas we alsolong to see you,
For whatthankscanwe renderto Godfor you in returnfor allthe joywith whichwe rejoicebeforeour Godon your account,
Finallythen,brethren,we requestand exhortyou in the LordJesus,that as you receivedfrom us [instruction] as to howyou oughtto walkand pleaseGod(justas you actuallydo walk),that you excelstill more.
Nowwe requestyou, brethren,with regardto the comingof our LordJesusChristand our gathering togetherto Him,
But we shouldalwaysgive thanksto Godfor you, brethrenbelovedby the Lord,becauseGodhas chosenyou from the beginningfor salvationthroughsanctificationby the Spiritand faithin the truth.
Since you have in obedienceto the truthpurifiedyour soulsfor a sincerelove of the brethren,ferventlyloveone anotherfrom the heart,
I considerit right,as longas I amin this[earthly] dwelling,to stiryou up by wayof reminder,
but growin the graceand knowledgeof our Lordand SaviorJesusChrist.To Him [be] the glory,bothnowand to the dayof eternity.Amen.
