But for now ¹  I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother, ²  coworker and fellow soldier, and your messenger ³  and minister ⁴  to me in my need. ⁵ 

He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹ 

I became a servant of the church according to the stewardship ¹  from God – given to me for you – in order to complete ²  the word of God,

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, ¹  and for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not met me face to face. ² 

Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths ¹  about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind. ² 

I sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are doing ¹  and that he may encourage your hearts.

and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath. ¹ 

But although we suffered earlier and were mistreated in Philippi, ¹  as you know, we had the courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God ²  in spite of much opposition.

who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets ¹  and persecuted us severely. ²  They are displeasing to God and are opposed to all people,

because they hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they constantly fill up their measure of sins, ¹  but wrath ²  has come upon them completely. ³ 

For how can we thank God enough for you, ¹  for all the joy we feel ²  because of you before our God?

Now may God our Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you.

Consequently the one who rejects this is not rejecting human authority ¹  but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

And indeed you are practicing it toward all the brothers and sisters ¹  in all of Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, ² 

Now we do not want you to be uninformed, ¹  brothers and sisters, ²  about those who are asleep, ³  so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope.

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, ¹  and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

And we urge you, brothers and sisters, ¹  admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient toward all.

This is evidence of God’s righteous judgment, to make you worthy ¹  of the kingdom of God, for which in fact you are suffering.

and to you who are being afflicted to give rest together with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed ¹  from heaven with his mighty angels. ² 

Finally, pray for us, brothers and sisters, ¹  that the Lord’s message ²  may spread quickly and be honored ³  as in fact it was among you,