1 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace.
2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,
3 remembering without ceasing before our God and Father your work of faith, labour of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
4 Knowing, brothers beloved of God, your first calling,
5 how that our preaching of the gospel came not to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance. Even as you know what manner of men we have shown ourselves toward you, for your sake.
6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit.
7 In this way you became an example to all in Macedonia and in Achaia that believe.
8 For from you has sounded out the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia but in every place your faith toward God has gone forth; so that we do not need to say anything about you.
9 For others report about what kind of reception you gave us and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God,
10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.
1 Brothers, you know our visit with you, that it has not been found vain.
2 As you know, previously in Philippi we suffered and were spitefully treated; but even amid much opposition we were bold in our God to tell you about the gospel of God.
3 For our appeal is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deceit.
4 But even as we have been approved of God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men but God, who tests our hearts.
5 For neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness, God is witness;
6 nor seeking glory of men, neither from you nor from others, when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ.
7 But we were gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherishes her own children.
8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.
9 For, brothers, you remember our labour and distress, working night and day, so that we would not burden any of you while we preached the gospel of God to you.
10 You are witnesses and God also, how holily and righteously and unblameably we behaved ourselves toward you that believe.
11 As you know how we dealt with each one of you, as a father with his own children, exhorting you, encouraging you and testifying,
12 to the end you should walk worthily of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
13 And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works powerfully in you that believe.
14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus which are in Judea. For you also suffered the same things of your own countrymen, even as they did of the Jews,
15 who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and do not please God, and oppose all mankind,
16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved. By doing so they fill up the full measure of their sins. But God's wrath comes upon them at last.
17 But we, brothers, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence but not in heart, endeavoured more eagerly to see your face with great desire.
18 Because we wanted to come to you, I Paul time and again; but Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?
20 For you are our glory and our joy.
1 Paul's Great Love for the Thessalonians Wherefore when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone;
2 and sent Timothy, our brother and God's minister in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith.
3 That no one be moved by these afflictions; for yourselves know that for this we are appointed.
4 For truly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction. Even as it came to pass and you know.
5 For this cause I also, when I could no longer endure it, sent Timothy, that I might know your faith, lest by any means the tempter had tempted you and our labour should be in vain.
6 But now Timothy has come to us from you and brought us the good news of your faith and love, and that you have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, even as we also you.
7 For this cause, brothers, in all our distress and affliction, we were comforted through hearing of your faith.
8 For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.
9 For what thanksgiving can we render again to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God,
10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and may perfect whatever is lacking in your faith?
11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.
12 And the Lord make you increase and abound in love one toward another and toward all men, even as we also toward you,
13 so that he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
1 Finally, brothers, we urge and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God.
2 For you know what instruction we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, that you live sanctified lives. Therefore abstain from fornication;
4 let each one of you take a wife for himself in sanctification and honour,
5 not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who do not know God.
6 Let no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter. Because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified.
7 For God called us not to uncleanness but to sanctification.
8 Therefore he that rejects this teaching rejects not man but God, who gives His Holy Spirit to you.
9 But concerning love of the brothers, you have no need that anyone write to you. For you yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
10 For indeed you do it toward all the brothers that are in all Macedonia. But, brothers, we encourage you to abound more and more.
11 May you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothingComfort From the Hope of Resurrection
13 Brothers, we would not have you ignorant concerning those that fall asleep, lest you grieve like those who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, just as surely those that have fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring up with him.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are still living at the coming of the Lord, shall in no way precede those that have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
17 Then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be snatched away in the clouds in the air to meet the Lord, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that something be written to you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night.
3 When people are saying: Peace and safety, then sudden destruction will come upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no way escape.
4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that this day should overtake you as a thief.
5 For you are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 So then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that are drunk, are drunk in the night.
8 But let us, since we 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 destined us to suffer His wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, even as you already do.
12 But brothers, we urge you to recognize those that labour among you, who are over you in the Lord and who encourage you.
13 Esteem these exceedingly high in love, for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
14 And we exhort you, brothers, warn the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all.
15 See that no one repays anyone evil with evil, but always follow after that which is good one toward another and toward all.
16 Rejoice always.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In everything give thanks. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not despise prophecies.
21 Test all things. Hold fast to what is good.
22 Abstain from evil wherever it appears.
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is He that calls you, who will also do it.
25 Brothers, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
27 I solemnly implore you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the brothers.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.