▲1.1 Paul and Silvanus and
Timotheus to the assembly of Thessalonians in God [the] Father and
[the] Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace. 1.2 We give
thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you at our prayers, 1.3
remembering unceasingly your work of faith, and labour of love, and
enduring constancy of hope, of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God
and Father; 1.4
knowing, brethren beloved by God, your election. 1.5 For our
glad tidings were not with you in word only, but also in power, and in
[the] Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; even as ye know what we were
among you for your sakes: 1.6 and
*ye* became our imitators, and of the Lord, having accepted the word in
much tribulation with joy of [the] Holy Spirit, 1.7 so that
ye became models to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia: 1.8 for the
word of the Lord sounded out from you, not only in Macedonia and
Achaia, but in every place your faith which [is] towards God has gone
abroad, so that we have no need to say anything; 1.9 for
they themselves relate concerning us what entering in we had to you,
and how ye turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, 1.10 and to
await his Son from the heavens, whom he raised from among the dead,
Jesus, our deliverer from the coming wrath. ▲2.1 For ye know yourselves,
brethren, our entering in which [we had] to you, that it has not been
in vain; 2.2 but,
having suffered before and been insulted, even as ye know, in Philippi,
we were bold in our God to speak unto you the glad tidings of God with
much earnest striving. 2.3 For our
exhortation [was] not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile; 2.4 but
even as we have been approved of God to have the glad tidings entrusted
to us, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who proves our hearts. 2.5 For we
have not at any time been [among you] with flattering discourse, even
as ye know, nor with a pretext for covetousness, God [is] witness; 2.6 nor
seeking glory from men, neither from you nor from others, when we might
have been a charge as Christ's apostles; 2.7 but
have been gentle in the midst of you, as a nurse would cherish her own
children. 2.8 Thus,
yearning over you, we had found our delight in having imparted to you
not only the glad tidings of God, but our own lives also, because ye
had become beloved of us. 2.9 For ye
remember, brethren, our labour and toil: working night and day, not to
be chargeable to any one of you, we have preached to you the glad
tidings of God. 2.10 *Ye*
[are] witnesses, and God, how piously and righteously and blamelessly
we have conducted ourselves with you that believe: 2.11 as ye
know how, as a father his own children, we used to exhort each one of
you, and comfort and testify, 2.12 that
ye should walk worthy of God, who calls you to his own kingdom and
glory. 2.13 And
for this cause we also give thanks to God unceasingly that, having
received [the] word of [the] report of God by us, ye accepted, not
men's word, but, even as it is truly, God's word, which also works in
you who believe. 2.14 For
*ye*, brethren, have become imitators of the assemblies of God which
are in Judaea in Christ Jesus; for *ye* also have suffered the same
things of your own countrymen as also *they* of the Jews, 2.15 who
have both slain the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and have driven us out
by persecution, and do not please God, and [are] against all men, 2.16
forbidding us to speak to the nations that they may be saved, that they
may fill up their sins always: but wrath has come upon them to the
uttermost. 2.17 But
we, brethren, having been bereaved of you and separated for a little
moment in person, not in heart, have used more abundant diligence to
see your face with much desire; 2.18
wherefore we have desired to come to you, even I Paul, both once and
twice, and Satan has hindered us. 2.19 For
what [is] our hope, or joy, or crown of boasting? [are] not *ye* also
before our Lord Jesus at his coming? 2.20 for ye
are our glory and joy. ▲3.1 Wherefore, being no longer
able to refrain ourselves, we thought good to be left alone in Athens, 3.2 and
sent Timotheus, our brother and fellow-workman under God in the glad
tidings of Christ, to confirm you and encourage [you] concerning your
faith, 3.3 that no
one might be moved by these afflictions. (For yourselves know that we
are set for this; 3.4 for
also, when we were with you, we told you beforehand we are about to be
in tribulation, even as also it came to pass, and ye know.) 3.5 For
this reason *I* also, no longer able to refrain myself, sent to know
your faith, lest perhaps the tempter had tempted you and our labour
should be come to nothing. 3.6 But
Timotheus having just come to us from you, and brought to us the glad
tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have always good
remembrance of us, desiring much to see us, even as we also you; 3.7 for
this reason we have been comforted in you, brethren, in all our
distress and tribulation, through your faith, 3.8 because
now we live if *ye* stand firm in [the] Lord. 3.9 For
what thanksgiving can we render to God for you, for all the joy
wherewith we rejoice on account of you before our God, 3.10 night
and day beseeching exceedingly to the end that we may see your face,
and perfect what is lacking in your faith? 3.11 But
our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you. 3.12 But
you, may the Lord make to exceed and abound in love toward one another,
and toward all, even as we also towards you, 3.13 in
order to the confirming of your hearts unblamable in holiness before
our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. ▲4.1 For the rest, then,
brethren, we beg you and exhort you in [the] Lord Jesus, even as ye
have received from us how ye ought to walk and please God, even as ye
also do walk, that ye would abound still more. 4.2 For ye
know what charges we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 4.3 For
this is [the] will of God, [even] your sanctification, that ye should
abstain from fornication; 4.4 that
each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and
honour, 4.5 (not in
passionate desire, even as the nations who know not God,) 4.6 not
overstepping the rights of and wronging his brother in the matter,
because the Lord [is] the avenger of all these things, even as we also
told you before, and have fully testified. 4.7 For God
has not called us to uncleanness, but in sanctification. 4.8 He
therefore that [in this] disregards [his brother], disregards, not man,
but God, who has given also his Holy Spirit to you. 4.9 Now
concerning brotherly love ye have no need that we should write to you,
for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 4.10 For
also ye do this towards all the brethren in the whole of Macedonia; but
we exhort you, brethren, to abound still more, 4.11 and to
seek earnestly to be quiet and mind your own affairs, and work with
your [own] hands, even as we charged you, 4.12 that
ye may walk reputably towards those without, and may have need of no
one. 4.13 But we
do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them that are
fallen asleep, to the end that ye be not grieved even as also the rest
who have no hope. 4.14 For if
we believe that Jesus has died and has risen again, so also God will
bring with him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. 4.15 (For
this we say to you in [the] word of [the] Lord, that *we*, the living,
who remain to the coming of the Lord, are in no way to anticipate those
who have fallen asleep; 4.16 for
the Lord himself, with an assembling shout, with archangel's voice and
with trump of God, shall descend from heaven; and the dead in Christ
shall rise first; 4.17 then
*we*, the living who remain, shall be caught up together with them in
[the] clouds, to meet the Lord in [the] air; and thus we shall be
always with [the] Lord. 4.18 So
encourage one another with these words.) ▲5.1 But concerning the times
and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that ye should be written to, 5.2 for ye
know perfectly well yourselves, that the day of [the] Lord so comes as
a thief by night. 5.3 When
they may say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes upon
them, as travail upon her that is with child; and they shall in no wise
escape. 5.4 But
*ye*, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you
as a thief: 5.5 for all
*ye* are sons of light and sons of day; we are not of night nor of
darkness. 5.6 So then
do not let us sleep as the rest do, but let us watch and be sober; 5.7 for
they that sleep sleep by night, and they that drink drink by night; 5.8 but
*we* being of [the] day, let us be sober, putting on [the] breastplate
of faith and love, and as helmet [the] hope of salvation; 5.9 because
God has not set us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our
Lord Jesus Christ, 5.10 who
has died for us, that whether we may be watching or sleep, we may live
together with him. 5.11
Wherefore encourage one another, and build up each one the other, even
as also ye do. 5.12 But we
beg you, brethren, to know those who labour among you, and take the
lead among you in [the] Lord, and admonish you, 5.13 and to
regard them exceedingly in love on account of their work. Be in peace
among yourselves. 5.14 But we
exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, comfort the
faint-hearted, sustain the weak, be patient towards all. 5.15 See
that no one render to any evil for evil, but pursue always what is good
towards one another and towards all; 5.16
rejoice always; 5.17 pray
unceasingly; 5.18 in
everything give thanks, for this is [the] will of God in Christ Jesus
towards you; 5.19 quench
not the Spirit; 5.20 do not
lightly esteem prophecies; 5.21 but
prove all things, hold fast the right; 5.22 hold
aloof from every form of wickedness. 5.23 Now
the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly: and your whole spirit,
and soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ. 5.24 He
[is] faithful who calls you, who will also perform [it]. 5.25
Brethren, pray for us. 5.26 Greet
all the brethren with a holy kiss. 5.27 I
adjure you by the Lord that the letter be read to all the [holy]
brethren. 5.28 The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you.