Sanctification and Love

4 ^(A)Finally then, ^(B)brothers and sisters, we request and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us as to how you ought to ^[a](C)walk and ^(D)please God (just as you actually do ^[b]walk), that you ^(E)excel even more. ² For you know what instructions we gave you ^[c]by the authority of the Lord Jesus. ³ For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you ^(F)abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴ that ^(G)each of you know how to ^[d]possess his own ^[e](H)vessel in sanctification and ^(I)honor, ⁵ not in ^[f](J)lustful passion, like the Gentiles who ^(K)do not know God; ⁶ and that no one violate the rights and ^(L)take advantage of his brother or sister ^(M)in the matter, because ^(N)the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also ^(O)told you previously and solemnly warned you. ⁷ For ^(P)God has not called us for ^[g](Q)impurity, but in sanctification. ⁸ Therefore, the one who rejects this is not rejecting man, but the God who ^(R)gives His Holy Spirit to you.

⁹ Now as to the ^(S)love of the brothers and sisters, you ^(T)have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are ^(U)taught by God to love one another; ¹⁰ for indeed ^(V)you practice it toward all the brothers and sisters who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to ^(W)excel even more, ¹¹ and to make it your ambition ^(X)to lead a quiet life and ^(Y)attend to your own business and ^(Z)work with your hands, just as we instructed you, ¹² so that you will ^[h](AA)behave properly toward ^(AB)outsiders and ^[i](AC)not be in any need.

Those Who Died in Christ

¹³ But ^(AD)we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who ^[j](AE)are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed ^(AF)the rest of mankind do, who have ^(AG)no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, ^(AH)so also God will bring with Him ^(AI)those who have fallen asleep ^[k]through Jesus. ¹⁵ For we say this to you ^(AJ)by the word of the Lord, that ^(AK)we who are alive ^[l]and remain until ^(AL)the coming of the Lord will not precede ^(AM)those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord ^(AN)Himself ^(AO)will descend from heaven with a ^[m](AP)shout, with the voice of ^(AQ)the archangel and with the ^(AR)trumpet of God, and ^(AS)the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then ^(AT)we who are alive, who remain, will be ^(AU)caught up together with them ^(AV)in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always ^(AW)be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore, ^[n]comfort one another with these words.

The Day of the Lord

5 Now as to the ^(AX)periods and ^[o]times, brothers and sisters, you ^(AY)have no need of anything to be written to you. ² For you yourselves know full well that ^(AZ)the day of the Lord is coming ^(BA)just like a thief in the night. ³ While they are saying, “^(BB)Peace and safety!” then ^(BC)sudden destruction ^[p]will come upon them like ^(BD)labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in ^(BE)darkness, so that the day would overtake you ^[q](BF)like a thief; ⁵ for you are all ^(BG)sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of ^(BH)darkness; ⁶ so then, let’s not ^(BI)sleep as ^[r](BJ)others do, but let’s be alert and ^[s](BK)sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk, ^(BL)get drunk at night. ⁸ But since ^(BM)we are of the day, let’s ^(BN)be ^[t]sober, having put on the ^(BO)breastplate of ^(BP)faith and love, and as a ^(BQ)helmet, the ^(BR)hope of salvation. ⁹ For God has not destined us for ^(BS)wrath, but for ^(BT)obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ^10 (BU)who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. ¹¹ Therefore, ^[u]encourage one another and ^(BV)build one another up, just as you also are doing.

Christian Conduct

¹² But we ask you, brothers and sisters, to ^(BW)recognize those ^(BX)who diligently labor among you and ^[v](BY)are in leadership over you in the Lord, and give you ^[w]instruction, ¹³ and that you regard them very highly in love because of their work. ^(BZ)Live in peace with one another. ¹⁴ We urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish ^(CA)the ^[x]unruly, encourage ^(CB)the fainthearted, help ^(CC)the weak, be ^(CD)patient with everyone. ¹⁵ See that ^(CE)no one repays another with evil for evil, but always ^(CF)seek what is good for one another and for all people. ^16 (CG)Rejoice always, ^17 (CH)pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything ^(CI)give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. ^19 (CJ)Do not quench the Spirit, ²⁰ do not utterly reject ^[y](CK)prophecies, ²¹ but ^(CL)examine everything; ^(CM)hold firmly to that which is good, ²² abstain from every ^[z]form of evil.

²³ Now ^(CN)may the God of peace ^(CO)Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your ^(CP)spirit and soul and body be kept complete, ^(CQ)without blame at ^(CR)the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ^24 (CS)Faithful is He who ^(CT)calls you, and He also will do it.

²⁵ Brothers and sisters, ^(CU)pray for us^[aa].

^26 (CV)Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. ²⁷ I put you under oath by the Lord to ^(CW)have this letter read to all the ^(CX)brothers and sisters.

^28 (CY)May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Giving Thanks for Faith and Perseverance

1 ^(A)Paul, ^(B)Silvanus, and ^(C)Timothy,

To the ^(D)church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: ^2 (E)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

³ We ought always ^(F)to give thanks to God for you, ^(G)brothers and sisters, as is only fitting, because your faith is increasing abundantly, and the ^(H)love of each and every one of you toward one another grows ever greater. ⁴ As a result, we ourselves ^(I)speak proudly of you among ^(J)the churches of God for your ^[a]perseverance and faith ^[b](K)in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. ⁵ This is ^[c]a ^(L)plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be ^(M)considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you indeed are suffering. ^6 [d]For after all ^(N)it is only right ^[e]for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, ⁷ and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us, ^[f](O)when the Lord Jesus will be revealed ^(P)from heaven ^(Q)with ^[g]His mighty angels ^8 (R)in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who ^(S)do not know God, and to those who ^(T)do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. ⁹ These people will pay the penalty of ^(U)eternal destruction, ^(V)away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, ¹⁰ when He comes to be ^(W)glorified among His ^[h]saints on that ^(X)day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—because our ^(Y)testimony to you was believed. ¹¹ To this end also we ^(Z)pray for you always, that our God will ^(AA)consider you worthy of your ^(AB)calling, and fulfill every desire for ^(AC)goodness and the ^(AD)work of faith with power, ¹² so that the ^(AE)name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, in accordance with the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Man of Lawlessness

2 Now we ask you, ^(AF)brothers and sisters, regarding the ^[i](AG)coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our ^(AH)gathering together to Him, ² that you not be quickly shaken from your ^[j]composure or be disturbed either by a ^(AI)spirit, or a ^[k](AJ)message, or a ^(AK)letter as if from us, to the effect that ^(AL)the day of the Lord ^(AM)has come. ^3 (AN)No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the ^[l](AO)apostasy comes first, and the ^(AP)man of lawlessness is revealed, the ^(AQ)son of destruction, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself above ^[m](AR)every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, ^(AS)displaying himself as being God. ⁵ Do you not remember that ^(AT)while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? ⁶ And you know ^(AU)what restrains him now, so that he will be revealed in his time. ⁷ For ^(AV)the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only ^[n](AW)He who now restrains will do so until ^[o]He is ^[p]removed. ⁸ Then that lawless one ^(AX)will be revealed, whom the Lord will eliminate ^(AY)with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the ^(AZ)appearance of His ^[q]coming; ⁹ that is, the one whose ^[r]coming is in accord with the activity of ^(BA)Satan, with all power and false ^[s](BB)signs and wonders, ¹⁰ and with ^[t]all the deception of wickedness for ^(BC)those who perish, because they did not accept the love of ^(BD)the truth so as to be saved. ¹¹ For this reason ^(BE)God ^[u]will send upon them ^[v]a ^(BF)deluding influence so that they will believe ^[w]what is false, ¹² in order that they all may be ^[x]judged who ^(BG)did not believe the truth, but ^[y](BH)took pleasure in wickedness.

Stand Firm

^13 (BI)But we should always give thanks to God for you, ^(BJ)brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because ^(BK)God has chosen you ^[z]from the beginning ^(BL)for salvation ^[aa](BM)through sanctification ^[ab]by the Spirit and faith in the truth. ¹⁴ It was for this He ^(BN)called you through ^(BO)our gospel, ^[ac]that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ So then, brothers and sisters, ^(BP)stand firm and ^(BQ)hold on to the traditions which you were taught, whether ^(BR)by word of mouth or ^(BS)by letter ^[ad]from us.

^16 (BT)Now may our Lord Jesus Christ ^(BU)Himself and God our Father, who has ^(BV)loved us and given us eternal comfort and ^(BW)good hope by grace, ^17 (BX)comfort and ^(BY)strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.

Request for Prayer

3 ^(BZ)Finally, brothers and sisters, ^(CA)pray for us that ^(CB)the word of the Lord will ^[ae]spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it was also with you; ² and that we will be ^(CC)rescued from troublesome and evil people; for not all have the faith. ³ But ^(CD)the Lord is faithful, ^[af]and He will strengthen and protect you ^[ag]from ^(CE)the evil one. ⁴ We have ^(CF)confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you ^(CG)are doing, and will do, what we command. ⁵ May the Lord ^(CH)direct your hearts to the love of God and to the perseverance of Christ.

⁶ Now we command you, brothers and sisters, ^(CI)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you ^[ah](CJ)keep away from every brother or sister who ^[ai]leads a ^[aj](CK)disorderly life and not one in accordance with ^(CL)the tradition which ^[ak]you received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to ^[al](CM)follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined way among you, ⁸ nor did we ^(CN)eat ^[am]anyone’s bread ^[an]without paying for it, but with ^(CO)labor and hardship we kept ^(CP)working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; ⁹ not because we do not have ^(CQ)the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves ^(CR)as a role model for you, so that you would ^[ao]follow our example. ¹⁰ For even ^(CS)when we were with you, we used to give you this order: ^(CT)if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. ¹¹ For we hear that some among you are ^(CU)leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like ^(CV)busybodies. ¹² Now we command and ^(CW)exhort such persons in the Lord Jesus Christ to ^(CX)work ^[ap]peacefully and eat their own bread. ¹³ But as for you, ^(CY)brothers and sisters, ^(CZ)do not grow weary of doing good.

¹⁴ If anyone does not obey our ^[aq]instruction ^[ar](DA)in this letter, take special note of that person so as ^(DB)not to associate with him, so that he will be ^(DC)put to shame. ¹⁵ And yet ^(DD)do not regard that person as an enemy, but ^[as](DE)admonish that one as a ^(DF)brother or sister.

¹⁶ Now ^(DG)may the Lord of peace ^(DH)Himself continually grant you peace in every ^[at]circumstance. ^(DI)The Lord be with you all!

^17 [au]I, Paul, write this greeting ^(DJ)with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write. ^18 (DK)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.