| 1:1 |
Paul Silva′nusSilvanus and Timothy To the church of the Thessalo′niansThessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace |
| 1:2 |
We always give thanks to God always for all of you alland constantlymention mentioning you in our prayers constantly |
| 1:4 |
For we know brethrenbrothers and sisters beloved by God that he has chosen you; |
| 1:5 |
forbecause our message of the gospel came to you not only in word only but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; Youjust as you know what kind of menpersons we proved to be among you for your sake |
| 1:6 |
And you became imitators of us and of the Lord for in spite of persecution you received the word in much affliction with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit; |
| 1:7 |
so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedo′niaMacedonia and in Acha′iaAchaia |
| 1:8 |
For not only has the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedo′niaMacedonia and Acha′iaAchaia but in every place your faith in God has gonebecome forthknown everywhere so that we have no need notto sayspeak anythingabout it |
| 1:9 |
For theythe themselvespeople of those regions report concerningabout us what akind of welcome we had among you and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God |
| 1:10 |
and to wait for his Son from heaven whom he raised from the dead —Jesus who deliversrescues us from the wrath tothat comeis coming |
| 2:1 |
ForYou you yourselves know brethrenbrothers and sisters that our visitcoming to you was not in vain; |
| 2:2 |
but though we had already suffered and been shamefully treatedmistreated at Philippi as you know we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in thespite face of great opposition |
| 2:3 |
For our appeal does not spring from errordeceit or uncleannessimpure normotives isor ittrickery made with guile; |
| 2:4 |
but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel even so we speak not to please menmortals but to please God who tests our hearts |
| 2:5 |
ForAs you know and as God is our witness we never usedcame eitherwith words of flattery asor youwith know or a cloakpretext for greed as God is witness; |
| 2:6 |
nor did we seek glorypraise from menmortals whether from you or from others though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ |
| 2:7 |
though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ But we were gentle among you like a nurse takingtenderly carecaring offor her own children |
| 2:8 |
So beingdeeply affectionatelydo desirouswe ofcare for you that we wereare readydetermined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves because you hadhave become very dear to us |
| 2:9 |
ForYou you remember our labor and toil brethrenbrothers and sisters; we worked night and day so that we might not burden any of you while we preachedproclaimed to you the gospel of God |
| 2:10 |
You are witnesses and God also how holypure andupright righteous and blameless was our behaviorconduct towas toward you believers; |
| 2:11 |
forAs you know howwe likedealt a father with his children we exhorted each one of you andlike encourageda youfather andwith chargedhis youchildren |
| 2:12 |
tourging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God who calls you into his own kingdom and glory |
| 2:13 |
AndWe we also thankconstantly give thanks to God constantly for this that when you received the word of God whichthat you heard from us you accepted it not as thea human word of men but as what it really is theGods word of God which is also at work in you believers |
| 2:14 |
For you brethrenbrothers and sisters became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus whichthat are in Judea; for you suffered the same things from your own countrymencompatriots as they did from the Jews |
| 2:15 |
who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and drove us out; andthey displease God and oppose alleveryone men |
| 2:16 |
by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved—so asThus alwaysthey tohave fillconstantly been filling up the measure of their sins; Butbut Gods wrath has comeovertaken upon them at last |
| 2:17 |
ButAs sincefor weus werebrothers bereftand ofsisters youwhen brethren for a short time we were made orphans by being separated from you—in person not in heart —we endeavoredlonged the more eagerly and with great desireeagerness to see you face to face; |
| 2:18 |
becauseFor we wanted to come to you—certainly I Paul wanted to again and again—but Satan hinderedblocked usour way |
| 2:20 |
ForYes you are our glory and joy |
| 3:1 |
Therefore when we could bear it no longer we weredecided willing to be left behindalone atin Athens; alone |
| 3:2 |
and we sent Timothy our brother and Godsco servantworker for God in proclaiming the gospel of Christ to establishstrengthen and encourage you infor yourthe faithsake andof toyour exhortfaith you |
| 3:3 |
so that no one would be movedshaken by these afflictionspersecutions YouIndeed you yourselves know that this is towhat bewe ourare lotdestined for |
| 3:4 |
ForIn fact when we were with you we told you beforehand that we were to suffer afflictionpersecution; justso as it hasturned comeout to pass and as you know |
| 3:5 |
For this reason when I could bear it no longer I sent thatto Ifind mightout knowabout your faith; forI fearwas afraid that somehow the tempter had tempted you and that our labor wouldhad bebeen in vain |
| 3:6 |
But now that Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought us the good news of your faith and love andHe reportedhas told us also that you always remember us kindly and long to see us—just as we long to see you— |
| 3:7 |
forFor this reason brethrenbrothers inand sisters during all our distress and afflictionpersecution we have been comfortedencouraged about you through your faith; |
| 3:8 |
forFor we now we live if you continue to stand fastfirm in the Lord |
| 3:9 |
ForHow what thanksgiving can we renderthank to God enough for you in return for all the joy whichthat we feel for your sake before our God because of you |
| 3:10 |
prayingNight earnestly night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and supplyrestore whatwhatever is lacking in your faith |
| 3:11 |
Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you; |
| 3:12 |
andAnd may the Lord make you increase and abound in love tofor one another and tofor all menjust as we doabound toin love for you |
| 3:13 |
soAnd thatmay he mayso establishstrengthen your hearts unblamable in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints |
| 4:1 |
Finally brethrenbrothers and sisters we beseechask and exhorturge you in the Lord Jesus that as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God just as in fact you are doing you should do so more and more |
| 4:3 |
For this is the will of God your sanctification: that you abstain from unchastityfornication; |
| 4:4 |
that each one of you know how to takecontrol ayour wifeown forbody himself in holiness and honor |
| 4:5 |
not inwith thelustful passion oflike lustthe likeGentiles heathen who do not know God; |
| 4:6 |
that no manone transgresswrong andor wrongexploit hisa brother or sister in this matter because the Lord is an avenger in all these things just as we have already told you beforehand and solemnly forewarnedwarned you |
| 4:7 |
For God hasdid not calledcall us forto uncleannessimpurity but in holiness |
| 4:8 |
Therefore whoever disregardsrejects this disregardsrejects not manhuman authority but God who also gives his Holy Spirit to you |
| 4:9 |
ButNow concerning love of the brethrenbrothers and sisters you havedo nonot need to have anyanyone one write to you for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; |
| 4:10 |
and indeed you do love all the brethrenbrothers and sisters throughout Macedo′niaMacedonia But we exhorturge you brethrenbeloved to do so more and more |
| 4:11 |
to aspire to live quietly to mind your own affairs and to work with your hands as we chargeddirected you; |
| 4:12 |
so that you may commandbehave theproperly respecttoward of outsiders and be dependent on nobodyno one |
| 4:13 |
But we woulddo not havewant you ignorantto brethrenbe concerninguninformed brothers and sisters about those who arehave asleepdied so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope |
| 4:14 |
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so through Jesus God will bring with him those who have fallendied asleep |
| 4:15 |
For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord that we who are alive who are left until the coming of the Lord shallwill notby no means precede those who have fallendied asleep |
| 4:16 |
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command with the archangels call and with the sound of theGods trumpet ofwill Goddescend Andfrom heaven and the dead in Christ will rise first; |
| 4:17 |
thenThen we who are alive who are left shallwill be caught up in the clouds together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shallwill always be with the Lord forever |
| 4:18 |
Therefore comfortencourage one another with these words |
| 5:1 |
ButNow asconcerning to the times and the seasons brethrenbrothers and sisters you havedo nonot need to have anything written to you |
| 5:2 |
For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night |
| 5:3 |
When peoplethey say There is peace and security then sudden destruction will come upon them as travaillabor comespains come upon a pregnant woman with child and there will be no escape |
| 5:4 |
But you beloved are not in darkness brethren for that day to surprise you like a thief; |
| 5:5 |
Forfor you are all sonschildren of light and sonschildren of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness |
| 5:6 |
So then let us not sleepfall asleep as others do but let us keep awake and be sober; |
| 5:7 |
Forfor those who sleep sleep at night and those who getare drunk areget drunk at night |
| 5:9 |
For God has not destined us not for wrath but tofor obtainobtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ |
| 5:10 |
who died for us so that whether we wakeare awake or sleepasleep we mightmay live with him |
| 5:11 |
Therefore encourage one another and build oneup anothereach upother just as indeed you are doing |
| 5:12 |
But we beseechappeal to you brethrenbrothers and sisters to respect those who labor among you and arehave overcharge of you in the Lord and admonish you; |
| 5:13 |
and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work Be at peace among yourselves |
| 5:14 |
And we exhorturge you brethrenbeloved to admonish the idlers encourage the faintheartedfaint hearted help the weak be patient with all of them all |
| 5:17 |
pray constantlywithout ceasing |
| 5:20 |
doDo not despise prophesyingthe words of prophets |
| 5:21 |
but test everything; hold fast to what is good; |
| 5:23 |
May the God of peace himself sanctify you whollyentirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ |
| 5:24 |
HeThe one who calls you is faithful and he will do itthis |
| 5:25 |
BrethrenBeloved pray for us |
| 5:26 |
Greet all the brethrenbrothers and sisters with a holy kiss |
| 5:27 |
I adjuresolemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all theof brethrenthem |