We’ll see Paul transition away from the method of offering truth in response to lying rumors to more of a streamlined focus of offering truth without any more regard for the rumors. It was as if Paul was saying: ”You’ve heard the rumors, we’ve acknowledged and responded to them; now, lay them aside, put them to rest, and focus only on what is true (a great theme that comes up again in chapter 4:8). After doing so, Paul will continue by pealing back the layers of his heart a little more, expressing more intimately, how affectionately and fatherly he, Silvanus, and Timothy felt toward the Thessalonian church.