¹² May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other^(A) and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. ¹³ May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless^(B) and holy in the presence of our God and Father^(C) when our Lord Jesus comes^(D) with all his holy ones.^(E)

Living to Please God

4 As for other matters, brothers and sisters,^(F) we instructed you how to live^(G) in order to please God,^(H) as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. ² For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

³ It is God’s will^(I) that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;^{(J) 4} that each of you should learn to control your own body^[a](K) in a way that is holy and honorable, ⁵ not in passionate lust^(L) like the pagans,^(M) who do not know God;^{(N) 6} and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.^[b](O) The Lord will punish^(P) all those who commit such sins,^(Q) as we told you and warned you before. ⁷ For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.^{(R) 8} Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.^(S)

⁹ Now about your love for one another^(T) we do not need to write to you,^(U) for you yourselves have been taught by God^(V) to love each other.^{(W) 10} And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia.^(X) Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,^(Y)