4 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair,^(A) because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

² Devote yourselves to prayer,^(B) being watchful and thankful. ³ And pray for us, too, that God may open a door^(C) for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery^(D) of Christ, for which I am in chains.^{(E) 4} Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. ⁵ Be wise^(F) in the way you act toward outsiders;^(G) make the most of every opportunity.^{(H) 6} Let your conversation be always full of grace,^(I) seasoned with salt,^(J) so that you may know how to answer everyone.^(K)

Final Greetings

⁷ Tychicus^(L) will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant^[a](M) in the Lord. ⁸ I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our^[b] circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.^{(N) 9} He is coming with Onesimus,^(O) our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.^(P) They will tell you everything that is happening here.

¹⁰ My fellow prisoner Aristarchus^(Q) sends you his greetings, as does Mark,^(R) the cousin of Barnabas.^(S) (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) ¹¹ Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews^[c] among my co-workers^(T) for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. ¹² Epaphras,^(U) who is one of you^(V) and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you,^(W) that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature^(X) and fully assured. ¹³ I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea^(Y) and Hierapolis. ¹⁴ Our dear friend Luke,^(Z) the doctor, and Demas^(AA) send greetings. ¹⁵ Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea,^(AB) and to Nympha and the church in her house.^(AC)

¹⁶ After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read^(AD) in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

¹⁷ Tell Archippus:^(AE) “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”^(AF)

¹⁸ I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.^(AG) Remember^(AH) my chains.^(AI) Grace be with you.^(AJ)

1 Paul, Silas^[a](A) and Timothy,^(B)

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

Grace and peace to you.^(D)

Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ Faith

² We always thank God for all of you^(E) and continually mention you in our prayers.^{(F) 3} We remember before our God and Father^(G) your work produced by faith,^(H) your labor prompted by love,^(I) and your endurance inspired by hope^(J) in our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴ For we know, brothers and sisters^[b] loved by God,^(K) that he has chosen you, ⁵ because our gospel^(L) came to you not simply with words but also with power,^(M) with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know^(N) how we lived among you for your sake. ⁶ You became imitators of us^(O) and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering^(P) with the joy^(Q) given by the Holy Spirit.^{(R) 7} And so you became a model^(S) to all the believers in Macedonia^(T) and Achaia.^{(U) 8} The Lord’s message^(V) rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.^(W) Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, ⁹ for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned^(X) to God from idols^(Y) to serve the living and true God,^{(Z) 10} and to wait for his Son from heaven,^(AA) whom he raised from the dead^(AB)—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.^(AC)