1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patient hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
4 Knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.
5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; as you know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
6 And you became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit:
7 So that you were examples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
8 For from you the word of the Lord has gone out not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God is made known; so that we need not speak anything.
9 For they themselves report concerning us what manner of entering in we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to come.
1 For you yourselves, brethren, know our coming to you, that it was not in vain:
2 But even after we had suffered before, and were shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God with much opposition.
3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
4 But as we were considered by God to be qualified to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who examines our hearts.
5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a covering for covetousness; God is witness:
6 Nor from men did we seek glory, neither from you, nor yet from others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherishes her children:
8 So having strong affection for you, we were willing to have imparted to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own souls, because you were dear to us.
9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and travail: for laboring night and day, because we would not be an expense to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.
10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and just and blameless we were among you who believe:
11 As you know how we exhorted and comforted and instructed every one of you, as a father does his children,
12 That you would walk worthy of God, who has called you to his kingdom and glory.
13 For this reason also we thank God without ceasing, because, when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectively works also in you who believe.
14 For you, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for you also have suffered like things from your own countrymen, even as they have from the Jews:
15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God, and are opposed to all men:
16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins always: for the wrath has come upon them to the greatest extent.
17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
18 Therefore we would have come to you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
20 For you are our glory and joy.
1 Therefore when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
2 And sent Timothy, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
3 That no one should be moved by these afflictions: for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.
4 For truly, when we were with you, we told you before that we would suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and you know.
5 For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor was in vain.
6 But now when Timothy came from you to us, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
8 For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.
9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God;
10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
11 Now may God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.
12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love toward one another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
13 To the end that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
1 Furthermore then we plead with you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as you learned from us how you ought to walk and to please God, so you would abound more and more.
2 For you know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication:
4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor;
5 Not in the lust of evil desire, even as the Gentiles who do not know God:
6 That no one go too far and take advantage of his brother in any matter: because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
7 For God has not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness.
8 He therefore that despises these things, does not despise man, but God, who has also given to us his Holy Spirit.
9 But concerning brotherly love, you do not need me to write to you: for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.
10 And indeed you do it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia: but we plead with you, brethren, that you increase more and more;
11 And that you strive to be quiet, and to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
12 That you may walk honestly toward those who are outside, and that you may have need of nothing.
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, so that you do not sorrow, even as others who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those also who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall not precede those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.
2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as birth labor upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 You are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For those who sleep sleep in the night; and those who are drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Therefore comfort one another, and edify one another, even as also you do.
12 And we plead with you, brethren, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the discouraged, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
15 See that none renders evil for evil to anyone; but always follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
16 Rejoice at all times.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not despise prophecy.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23 And may the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he that calls you, who also will do it.
25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
27 I solemnly instruct you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.