churches of God in Christ Jesus which are in Judea, for you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15 who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men, 16 hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last. 17 But since we were taken away from you, brethren, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face. 18 For we wanted to come to youóI, Paul, again and againóbut Satan hindered us. 19 For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy. 3 1 Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these afflictions. You yourselves know that we have been destined for this. 4 For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know. 5 For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain. 6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, just as we long to see youó7 for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; 8 for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord. 9 For what thanksgiving can we render to God for you in return for all the joy which we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? 11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you; 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. 4 1 Finally, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God, just as you are doing, you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that is, that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to take his own