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You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;
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as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children,
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that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
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For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
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For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans,
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who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men,
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forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.
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But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire.
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Therefore we wanted to come to you--even I, Paul, time and again--but Satan hindered us.
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For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
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For you are our glory and joy.