1 Paul, Silas^[a](A) and Timothy,^(B)

To the church of the Thessalonians^(C) in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

² Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.^(D)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

³ We ought always to thank God for you,^(E) brothers and sisters,^[b] and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.^{(F) 4} Therefore, among God’s churches we boast^(G) about your perseverance and faith^(H) in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.^(I)

⁵ All this is evidence^(J) that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy^(K) of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. ⁶ God is just:^(L) He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you^{(M) 7} and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven^(N) in blazing fire^(O) with his powerful angels.^{(P) 8} He will punish^(Q) those who do not know God^(R) and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.^{(S) 9} They will be punished with everlasting destruction^(T) and shut out from the presence of the Lord^(U) and from the glory of his might^{(V) 10} on the day^(W) he comes to be glorified^(X) in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.^(Y)

¹¹ With this in mind, we constantly pray for you,^(Z) that our God may make you worthy^(AA) of his calling,^(AB) and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness^(AC) and your every deed prompted by faith.^{(AD) 12} We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,^(AE) and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.^[c]

The Man of Lawlessness

2 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ^(AF) and our being gathered to him,^(AG) we ask you, brothers and sisters, ² not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter^(AH)—asserting that the day of the Lord^(AI) has already come.^{(AJ) 3} Don’t let anyone deceive you^(AK) in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion^(AL) occurs and the man of lawlessness^[d] is revealed,^(AM) the man doomed to destruction. ⁴ He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God^(AN) or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.^(AO)

⁵ Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?^{(AP) 6} And now you know what is holding him back,^(AQ) so that he may be revealed at the proper time. ⁷ For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back^(AR) will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. ⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed,^(AS) whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth^(AT) and destroy by the splendor of his coming.^{(AU) 9} The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan^(AV) works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders^(AW) that serve the lie, ¹⁰ and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing.^(AX) They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.^{(AY) 11} For this reason God sends them^(AZ) a powerful delusion^(BA) so that they will believe the lie^{(BB) 12} and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.^(BC)

Stand Firm

¹³ But we ought always to thank God for you,^(BD) brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits^[e](BE) to be saved^(BF) through the sanctifying work of the Spirit^(BG) and through belief in the truth. ¹⁴ He called you^(BH) to this through our gospel,^(BI) that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁵ So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm^(BJ) and hold fast to the teachings^[f] we passed on to you,^(BK) whether by word of mouth or by letter.

¹⁶ May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,^(BL) who loved us^(BM) and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, ¹⁷ encourage^(BN) your hearts and strengthen^(BO) you in every good deed and word.

Request for Prayer

3 As for other matters, brothers and sisters,^(BP) pray for us^(BQ) that the message of the Lord^(BR) may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.^{(BS) 2} And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people,^(BT) for not everyone has faith. ³ But the Lord is faithful,^(BU) and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.^{(BV) 4} We have confidence^(BW) in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. ⁵ May the Lord direct your hearts^(BX) into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

Warning Against Idleness

⁶ In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,^(BY) we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from^(BZ) every believer who is idle and disruptive^(CA) and does not live according to the teaching^[g] you received from us.^{(CB) 7} For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example.^(CC) We were not idle when we were with you, ⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked^(CD) night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help,^(CE) but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.^{(CF) 10} For even when we were with you,^(CG) we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work^(CH) shall not eat.”

¹¹ We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.^{(CI) 12} Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ^(CJ) to settle down and earn the food they eat.^{(CK) 13} And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.^(CL)

¹⁴ Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them,^(CM) in order that they may feel ashamed.^{(CN) 15} Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.^(CO)

Final Greetings

¹⁶ Now may the Lord of peace^(CP) himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.^(CQ)

¹⁷ I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand,^(CR) which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write.

¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.^(CS)

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God^(A) our Savior^(B) and of Christ Jesus our hope,^(C)

² To Timothy^(D) my true son^(E) in the faith:

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.^(F)

Timothy Charged to Oppose False Teachers

³ As I urged you when I went into Macedonia,^(G) stay there in Ephesus^(H) so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines^(I) any longer ⁴ or to devote themselves to myths^(J) and endless genealogies.^(K) Such things promote controversial speculations^(L) rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. ⁵ The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart^(M) and a good conscience^(N) and a sincere faith.^{(O) 6} Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. ⁷ They want to be teachers^(P) of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.^(Q)

⁸ We know that the law is good^(R) if one uses it properly. ⁹ We also know that the law is made not for the righteous^(S) but for lawbreakers and rebels,^(T) the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, ¹⁰ for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine^{(U) 11} that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.^(V)

The Lord’s Grace to Paul

¹² I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength,^(W) that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.^{(X) 13} Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor^(Y) and a violent man, I was shown mercy^(Z) because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.^{(AA) 14} The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly,^(AB) along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.^(AC)

¹⁵ Here is a trustworthy saying^(AD) that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners^(AE)—of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶ But for that very reason I was shown mercy^(AF) so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience^(AG) as an example for those who would believe^(AH) in him and receive eternal life.^{(AI) 17} Now to the King^(AJ) eternal, immortal,^(AK) invisible,^(AL) the only God,^(AM) be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.^(AN)

The Charge to Timothy Renewed

¹⁸ Timothy, my son,^(AO) I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you,^(AP) so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well,^{(AQ) 19} holding on to faith and a good conscience,^(AR) which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.^{(AS) 20} Among them are Hymenaeus^(AT) and Alexander,^(AU) whom I have handed over to Satan^(AV) to be taught not to blaspheme.

Instructions on Worship

2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers,^(AW) intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority,^(AX) that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness^(AY) and holiness. ³ This is good, and pleases^(AZ) God our Savior,^{(BA) 4} who wants^(BB) all people^(BC) to be saved^(BD) and to come to a knowledge of the truth.^{(BE) 5} For there is one God^(BF) and one mediator^(BG) between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,^{(BH) 6} who gave himself as a ransom^(BI) for all people. This has now been witnessed to^(BJ) at the proper time.^{(BK) 7} And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying^(BL)—and a true and faithful teacher^(BM) of the Gentiles.^(BN)

⁸ Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands^(BO) without anger or disputing. ⁹ I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,^{(BP) 10} but with good deeds,^(BQ) appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

¹¹ A woman^[a] should learn in quietness and full submission.^{(BR) 12} I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man;^[b] she must be quiet.^{(BS) 13} For Adam was formed first, then Eve.^{(BT) 14} And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.^{(BU) 15} But women^[c] will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love^(BV) and holiness with propriety.

Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons

3 Here is a trustworthy saying:^(BW) Whoever aspires to be an overseer^(BX) desires a noble task. ² Now the overseer is to be above reproach,^(BY) faithful to his wife,^(BZ) temperate,^(CA) self-controlled, respectable, hospitable,^(CB) able to teach,^{(CC) 3} not given to drunkenness,^(CD) not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome,^(CE) not a lover of money.^{(CF) 4} He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full^[d] respect.^{(CG) 5} (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)^{(CH) 6} He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited^(CI) and fall under the same judgment^(CJ) as the devil. ⁷ He must also have a good reputation with outsiders,^(CK) so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.^(CL)

⁸ In the same way, deacons^[e](CM) are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine,^(CN) and not pursuing dishonest gain. ⁹ They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.^{(CO) 10} They must first be tested;^(CP) and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

¹¹ In the same way, the women^[f] are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers^(CQ) but temperate^(CR) and trustworthy in everything.

¹² A deacon must be faithful to his wife^(CS) and must manage his children and his household well.^{(CT) 13} Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Reasons for Paul’s Instructions

¹⁴ Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, ¹⁵ if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church^(CU) of the living God,^(CV) the pillar and foundation of the truth. ¹⁶ Beyond all question, the mystery^(CW) from which true godliness^(CX) springs is great: