1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the congregation of the Thessalonians, which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 We always thank God for all of you mentioning you in our prayers.
3 Without ceasing we remember your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.
4 Knowing, brothers dearly loved by God, about your election.
5 For our gospel did not come to you only in word but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and in full assurance, just as you know what kind 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 along with the joy of the Holy Spirit.
7 So that you were examples to all who believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
8 For the word of the Lord resounds from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also your faith toward God is spread abroad everywhere, so that we don't need to say anything.
9 For those things themselves tell about us, what kind of entering we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 1Th 1:10 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 yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain,
2 but even after we had suffered previously and were shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold, because of our God, to tell you the gospel of God in the face of much contention.
3 For our urgent preaching was not from deceit, impurity, or trickery,
4 but just as we were allowed by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not in a way to please people but God, who tests our hearts.
5 Neither at any time, as you know, did we use flattery or a facade of covetousness; God is witness.
6 We didn't seek praise from people, from you, or from others, when we could have been a burden, as the apostles of Christ.
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nursing mother cherishes her children.
8 So since we cared so much about you, we were willing to have given to you not only the gospel of God but our own souls as well, because you meant so much to us.
9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil, even working day and night.
10 For God and you are our witnesses, how pure from evil conduct, ethically, and blamelessly we behaved among you who believe.
11 You know exactly how we exhorted, comforted, and earnestly appealed to every one of you, just as a father does his children,
12 so that you would live your life worthy of God who has called you into his kingdom and glory.
13 We also thank God, without ceasing, because when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you didn't receive it as the word of men but, as it truly is, the word of God, which actively works in you who believe.
14 For brethren you became followers of the congregations of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus, for you have suffered similar things from your own countrymen, even as they have from the Jews.
15 Who not only killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets but also have persecuted us. They don't please God and are antagonistic to all people.
16 Forbidding us to tell the Gentiles that they can be saved, always maxing out their sins, for the wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.
17 But we, brethren, having been taken from you for a short time--in presence, not in heart--are making greater effort with much desire to see your faces.
18 Therefore we would have come to you, even I, Paul, over and over again, but Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our hope, joy, or crown of rejoicing in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? Isn't even you?
20 For you are our glory and joy.
1 And for this reason when we could no longer take it, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone,
2 and sent Timothy, our brother minister of God, and our fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and comfort you in your faith,
3 so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions, for you yourselves know that we all are placed into this.
4 For truly, when we were with you, we told you ahead of time that we would suffer afflictions, even as it happened and as you know.
5 For this reason when I couldn't put it off any longer I sent so that I might know about your faith, lest somehow the tempter having tempted you and our labor turn out to be futile.
6 But now Timothy came from you to us and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good memories of us, greatly desiring to see us, just as we do you.
7 Therefore, brothers, by your faith we were comforted about you in all our affliction and distress.
8 For now we live, if you remain steadfast in the Lord.
9 For what thanks can we again give to God for you, for all the joy that we enjoy before our God because of you.
10 Day and night praying over and over that we might see your face and might perfect what is lacking in your faith.
11 Now God and our Father himself and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.
12 And may the Lord have you increase and be abundant in love towards one another and towards all just as we do toward you.
13 For the purpose that he may strengthen you hearts to be unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his holy ones.
1 Furthermore we plead with you, brothers, and urge you by the Lord Jesus that just as you received from us how you must live your life and please God, and that this would increase more and more.
2 For you know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, your purity. You must stay away from fornication.
4 Each of you must know how to take control of his body in purity and honor, 1Th 4:5 not in the passionate lust, like the Gentiles, who don't know God, have.
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6 Let no one go beyond these limits and take advantage of his brother in any thing, because the Lord is an avenger of all these, as we also forewarned you and earnestly testified.
7 For God has not called us to be impure but to be pure.
8 Therefore the one who despises, doesn't despise man but God, who has also given us his Holy Spirit.
9 But concerning brotherly love you don't need that I write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.
10 Indeed, you do this toward all the brothers who are in Macedonia, but we plead with you, brothers, to increase more and more.
11 And be eager to be quiet, mind your own business, and to work with your hands, just as we commanded you,
12 so that you may live honestly towards outsiders and that you may be financially dependent on no one.
13 Now I don't want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep [in death], in order that you don't grieve even as others who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain at the coming of the Lord will not go before those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God's trumpet, then the dead in Christ will rise first, 1Th 4:17 then we who are alive and remain will be taken up together to be with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will ever be with the Lord.
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18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Now concerning the times and seasons, brothers, you don't have any need that I write to you.
2 For you know perfectly well that the Day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.
3 For when they will say, "Peace and safety", then sudden destruction will come on them, like the birth pains of a woman in labor, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so as that day would catch you off guard like a thief.
5 You are all the children of light and the children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep like others do, but let us keep watch and be sober.
7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk, are drunk at night,
8 but let us who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith, love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God has not appointed us to wrath but to receive salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us, so that whether we are alive or sleep [in death], we should live together with him.
11 Therefore comfort each other, and build each other up, even as you are doing.
12 We plead with you, brothers, to respect those who work among you, are over you in the Lord, and warn you.
13 Also to very highly respect them in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we strongly encourage you, brothers, warn those who are unruly, comfort the faint-hearted, don't let the weak fall, be patient towards all.
15 See to it that no one pay back evil for evil to anybody, but always follow that which is good both among yourselves and to all.
16 Rejoice at all times.
17 Pray without quitting.
18 Give thanks in everything, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not despise prophecies.
21 Test everything; tightly hold on to what is good.
22 Stay away from every kind of evil.
23 May the God of peace, himself, purify you completely, and may you whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless up to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 He who called you is faithful and will also accomplish it.
25 Brothers, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
27 I order you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy brothers.
28 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.