2 aGrace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 We ought always ato give thanks to God for you, bbrethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the clove of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;

4 therefore, we ourselves aspeak proudly of you among bthe churches of God for your 1perseverance and faith bin the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.

5 This is a aplain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be bconsidered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.

6 1For after all ait is only just 2for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,

7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted 1and to us as well 2awhen the Lord Jesus will be revealed bfrom heaven cwith 3His mighty angels din flaming fire,

8 dealing out retribution to those who ado not know God and to those who bdo not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

9 These will pay the penalty of aeternal destruction, baway from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,