1 Paul,3972 and Silvanus,4610 and Timotheus,5095 to the church1577 of the Thessalonians2331 which is in God2316 the Father3962 and in the Lord2962 Jesus2424 Christ:5547 Grace5485 be to you, and peace,1515 from God2316 our Father,3962 and the Lord2962 Jesus2424 Christ.5547
2 We give thanks2168 to God2316 always3842 for you all,3956 making4160 mention3417 of you in our prayers;4335
3 Remembering3421 without89 ceasing89 your5209 work2041 of faith,4102 and labor2873 of love,25 and patience5281 of hope1680 in our Lord2962 Jesus2424 Christ,5547 in the sight1715 of God2316 and our Father;3962
4 Knowing,1492 brothers80 beloved,25 your5216 election1589 of God.2316
5 For our gospel2098 came1096 not to you in word3056 only,3440 but also2532 in power,1411 and in the Holy40 Ghost,4151 and in much4183 assurance;4136 as you know1492 what3634 manner3634 of men we were among1722 you for your5209 sake.
6 And you became1096 followers3402 of us, and of the Lord,2962 having received1209 the word3056 in much4183 affliction,2347 with joy5479 of the Holy40 Ghost.4151
7 So5620 that you were ensamples5179 to all3956 that believe4100 in Macedonia3109 and Achaia.882
8 For from you sounded1837 out the word3056 of the Lord2962 not only3440 in Macedonia3109 and Achaia,882 but also2532 in every3956 place5117 your5216 faith4102 to God-ward4314 2316 is spread1831 abroad;1831 so5620 that we need2192 5532 not to speak2980 any5100 thing.
9 For they themselves846 show518 of us what3697 manner3697 of entering1529 in we had2192 to you, and how4459 you turned1994 to God2316 from idols1497 to serve1398 the living2198 and true228 God;2316
10 And to wait362 for his Son5207 from heaven,3772 whom3739 he raised1453 from the dead,3498 even Jesus,2424 which3588 delivered4506 us from the wrath3709 to come.2064
1 For yourselves,846 brothers,80 know1492 our entrance1529 in to you, that it was not in vain:2756
2 But even2532 after that we had suffered4310 before,4310 and were shamefully5195 entreated,5195 as you know,1492 at1722 Philippi,5375 we were bold3955 in our God2316 to speak2980 to you the gospel2098 of God2316 with much4183 contention.73
3 For our exhortation3874 was not of deceit,4106 nor3761 of uncleanness,167 nor3777 in guile:1388
4 But as we were allowed1381 of God2316 to be put4160 in trust4100 with the gospel,2098 even so3779 we speak;2980 not as pleasing700 men,444 but God,2316 which tries1381 our hearts.2588
5 For neither3777 at4218 any4218 time4218 used1096 1722 we flattering2850 words,3056 as you know,1492 nor3777 a cloak4392 of covetousness;4124 God2316 is witness:3144
6 Nor3777 of men444 sought2212 we glory,1391 neither3777 of you, nor3777 yet of others,243 when we might1410 have been burdensome,1722 922 as the apostles652 of Christ.5547
7 But we were gentle2261 among1722 3319 you, even as a nurse5162 cherishes2282 her children:5043
8 So3779 being affectionately2442 desirous2442 of you, we were willing2106 to have imparted3330 to you, not the gospel2098 of God2316 only,3440 but also2532 our own1438 souls,5590 because1360 you were dear27 to us.
9 For you remember,3421 brothers,80 our labor2873 and travail:3449 for laboring2873 night3571 and day,2250 because4314 we would not be chargeable1912 to any5100 of you, we preached2784 to you the gospel2098 of God.2316
10 You are witnesses,3144 and God2316 also,2532 how5613 piously3743 and justly1346 and blamelessly274 we behaved1096 ourselves among you that believe:4100
11 As you know1492 how5613 we exhorted and comforted3888 and charged3143 every1538 one1520 of you, as a father3962 does his children,5043
12 That you would walk4043 worthy516 of God,2316 who3588 has called2564 you to his kingdom932 and glory.1391
13 For this5124 cause1223 also2532 thank2168 we God2316 without89 ceasing,89 because,3754 when you received3880 the word3056 of God2316 which you heard189 of us, you received1209 it not as the word3056 of men,444 but as it is in truth,230 the word3056 of God,2316 which3739 effectually1754 works1754 also2532 in you that believe.4100
14 For you, brothers,80 became1096 followers3402 of the churches1577 of God2316 which3588 in Judaea2449 are in Christ5547 Jesus:2424 for you also2532 have suffered3958 like5024 things of your2398 own2398 countrymen,4853 even2532 as they have of the Jews:2453
15 Who3588 both2532 killed615 the Lord2962 Jesus,2424 and their own2398 prophets,4396 and have persecuted1559 us; and they please700 not God,2316 and are contrary1727 to all3956 men:444
16 Forbidding2967 us to speak2980 to the Gentiles1484 that they might be saved,4982 to fill378 up their sins266 always:104 for the wrath3709 is come5348 on them to the uttermost.5056
17 But we, brothers,80 being taken642 from you for a short5610 time2540 in presence,4383 not in heart,2588 endeavored4704 the more4056 abundantly4056 to see1492 your5216 face4383 with great4183 desire.1939
18 Why1352 we would2309 have come2064 to you, even3303 I Paul,3972 once530 and again;1364 but Satan4567 hindered1465 us.
19 For what5101 is our hope,1680 or2228 joy,5479 or2228 crown4735 of rejoicing?2746 Are not even2532 you in the presence1715 of our Lord2962 Jesus2424 Christ5547 at1722 his coming?3952
20 For you are our glory1391 and joy.5479
1 Why1352 when we could no3371 longer3371 forbear,4722 we thought2106 it good2106 to be left2641 at1722 Athens116 alone;3441
2 And sent3992 Timotheus,5095 our brother,80 and minister1249 of God,2316 and our fellow laborer4904 in the gospel2098 of Christ,5547 to establish4741 you, and to comfort3870 you concerning4012 your5216 faith:4102
3 That no3367 man3367 should be moved4525 by these5025 afflictions:2347 for yourselves846 know1492 that we are appointed2749 thereunto.1519 5124
4 For truly,2532 when3753 we were with you, we told4302 you before4302 that we should3195 suffer tribulation;2346 even2532 as it came1096 to pass, and you know.1492
5 For this5124 cause,1223 when I could no3371 longer3371 forbear,4722 I sent375 to know1097 your5216 faith,4102 lest3381 by some3381 means4458 the tempter3985 have tempted3985 you, and our labor2873 be in vain.2756
6 But now737 when Timotheus5095 came2064 from you to us, and brought2097 us good2097 tidings2097 of your5216 faith4102 and charity,26 and that you have2192 good18 remembrance3417 of us always,3842 desiring1971 greatly1971 to see1492 us, as we also2532 to see you:
7 Therefore,1223 5125 brothers,80 we were comforted3870 over1909 you in all3956 our affliction2347 and distress318 by your5216 faith:4102
8 For now3568 we live,2198 if1437 you stand4739 fast in the Lord.2962
9 For what5101 thanks2169 can1410 we render467 to God2316 again467 for you, for all3956 the joy5479 with which3739 we joy5463 for your5209 sakes before1715 our God;2316
10 Night3571 and day2250 praying1189 exceedingly5228 that we might see1492 your5216 face,4383 and might perfect2675 that which is lacking5303 in your5216 faith?4102
11 Now1161 God2316 himself846 and our Father,3962 and our Lord2962 Jesus2424 Christ,5547 direct2720 our way3598 to you.
12 And the Lord2962 make4121 you to increase4121 and abound4052 in love25 one240 toward1519 another,240 and toward1519 all3956 men, even2532 as we do toward1519 you:
13 To the end1519 he may establish4741 your5216 hearts2588 blameless299 in holiness42 before1715 God,2316 even2532 our Father,3962 at1722 the coming3952 of our Lord2962 Jesus2424 Christ5547 with all3956 his saints.40
1 Furthermore3063 then3767 we beseech2065 you, brothers,80 and exhort3870 you by the Lord2962 Jesus,2424 that as you have2192 received3880 of us how4459 you ought1163 to walk4043 and to please700 God,2316 so you would abound4052 more3123 and more.3123
2 For you know1492 what5101 commandments3852 we gave1325 you by the Lord2962 Jesus.2424
3 For this5124 is the will2307 of God,2316 even your5216 sanctification,38 that you should abstain567 from fornication:4202
4 That every1538 one of you should know1492 how to possess2932 his vessel4632 in sanctification38 and honor;5092
5 Not in the lust3806 of concupiscence,1939 even2532 as the Gentiles1484 which3588 know1492 not God:2316
6 That no3361 man go5233 beyond5233 and defraud4122 his brother80 in any matter:4229 because1360 that the Lord2962 is the avenger1558 of all3956 such,5130 as we also2532 have2192 forewarned4277 you and testified.1263
7 For God2316 has not called2564 us to uncleanness,167 but to holiness.38
8 He therefore5105 that despises,114 despises114 not man,444 but God,2316 who has also2532 given1325 to us his holy40 Spirit.4151
9 But as touching4012 brotherly5360 love5360 you need5532 not that I write1125 to you: for you yourselves846 are taught2312 of God2312 to love25 one240 another.240
10 And indeed1063 you do4160 it toward1519 all3956 the brothers80 which3588 are in all3650 Macedonia:3109 but we beseech3870 you, brothers,80 that you increase4052 more3123 and more;3123
11 And that you study5389 to be quiet,2270 and to do4238 your2398 own2398 business,2398 and to work2038 with your2398 own2398 hands,5495 as we commanded3853 you;
12 That you may walk4043 honestly2156 toward4314 them that are without,1854 and that you may have2192 lack5532 of nothing.3367
13 But I would2309 not have you to be ignorant,50 brothers,80 concerning4012 them which are asleep,2837 that you sorrow3076 not, even2532 as others3062 which3588 have2192 no3361 hope.1680
14 For if1487 we believe4100 that Jesus2424 died599 and rose450 again,450 even so3779 them also2532 which sleep2837 in Jesus2424 will God2316 bring71 with him.
15 For this5124 we say3004 to you by the word3056 of the Lord,2962 that we which3588 are alive2198 and remain4035 to the coming3952 of the Lord2962 shall not precede5348 them which3588 are asleep.2837
16 For the Lord2962 himself846 shall descend2597 from heaven3772 with a shout,2752 with the voice5456 of the archangel,743 and with the trump4536 of God:2316 and the dead3498 in Christ5547 shall rise450 first:4412
17 Then1899 we which3588 are alive2198 and remain4035 shall be caught726 up together260 with them in the clouds,3507 to meet529 the Lord2962 in the air:109 and so3779 shall we ever3842 be with the Lord.2962
18 Why5620 comfort3870 one240 another240 with these5125 words.3056
1 But of the times5550 and the seasons,2540 brothers,80 you have2192 no3756 need5532 that I write1125 to you.
2 For yourselves846 know1492 perfectly199 that the day2250 of the Lord2962 so3779 comes2064 as a thief2812 in the night.3571
3 For when3752 they shall say,3004 Peace1515 and safety;803 then5119 sudden160 destruction3639 comes2186 on them, as travail5604 on a woman with child;1722 106 2192 and they shall not 1628escape.
4 But you, brothers,80 are not in darkness,4655 that that day2250 should overtake2638 you as a thief.2812
5 You are all3956 the children5207 of light,5457 and the children5207 of the day:2250 we are not of the night,3571 nor3761 of darkness.4655
6 Therefore686 3767 let us not sleep,2518 as do others;3062 but let us watch1127 and be sober.3525
7 For they that sleep2518 sleep2518 in the night;3571 and they that be drunken3184 are drunken3184 in the night.3571
8 But let us, who are of the day,2250 be sober,3525 putting1746 on1746 the breastplate2382 of faith4102 and love;26 and for an helmet,4030 the hope1680 of salvation.4991
9 For God2316 has not appointed5087 us to wrath,3709 but to obtain4047 salvation4991 by our Lord2962 Jesus2424 Christ,5547
10 Who3588 died599 for us, that, whether1535 we wake1127 or1535 sleep,2518 we should live2198 together260 with him.
11 Why1352 comfort3870 yourselves240 together,240 and edify3618 one1520 another,1520 even2531 as also2532 you do.4160
12 And we beseech2065 you, brothers,80 to know1492 them which3588 labor2872 among1722 you, and are over4291 you in the Lord,2962 and admonish3560 you;
13 And to esteem2233 them very5228 highly1537 4053 in love26 for their work's2041 sake. And be at1722 peace1518 among1722 yourselves.1438
14 Now1161 we exhort3870 you, brothers,80 warn3560 them that are unruly,813 comfort3888 the feebleminded,3642 support472 the weak,772 be patient3114 toward4314 all3956 men.
15 See3708 that none3361 5100 render591 evil2556 for evil2556 to any5100 man; but ever3842 follow1377 that which3588 is good,18 both2532 among1519 yourselves,1438 and to all3956 men.
16 Rejoice5463 ever more.3842
17 Pray4336 without89 ceasing.89
18 In every3956 thing give thanks:2168 for this5124 is the will2307 of God2316 in Christ5547 Jesus2424 concerning1519 you.
19 Quench4570 not the Spirit.4151
20 Despise1848 not prophesyings.4394
21 Prove1381 all3956 things; hold2722 fast2722 that which3588 is good.2570
22 Abstain567 from all3956 appearance1491 of evil.4190
23 And the very846 God2316 of peace1515 sanctify37 you wholly;3651 and I pray God your3588 whole3648 spirit4151 and soul5590 and body4983 be preserved5083 blameless274 to the coming3952 of our Lord2962 Jesus2424 Christ.5547
24 Faithful4103 is he that calls2564 you, who3739 also2532 will do4160 it.
25 Brothers,80 pray4336 for us.
26 Greet782 all3956 the brothers80 with an holy40 kiss.5370
27 I charge3726 you by the Lord2962 that this3588 letter1992 be read314 to all3956 the holy40 brothers.80
28 The grace5485 of our Lord2962 Jesus2424 Christ5547 be with you. Amen.281 The first epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Athens.