We should always thank God for you, brothers and sisters. That’s only right, because your faith is growing more and more and your love for one another is increasing.
But we should always thank God for you, brothers and sisters, because the Lord loves you and chose you as the first to be saved. This has happened through the work of the Holy Spirit, which makes people holy, and through your belief in the truth.
Now I want to talk about some other matters, brothers and sisters. We taught you how to live in a way that pleases God, and that’s how you’re living. But in the name of the Lord Jesus, we ask you and urge you to do that more and more.
But just now Timothy has come to us from you, and he has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have happy memories of us and that you long to see us just as we long to see you.
It’s right for me to feel this way about all of you. You have a special place in my heart. Whether I’m being held in chains or standing up for the truth of the good news, either way, all of you share together in God’s grace with me.
And I won’t brag about the work that others have done. If I did, I’d be bragging more than I should. I hope that my work among you will greatly increase as your faith continues to grow.