Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

2 You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain. ² But even after we had previously suffered and were shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to declare to you the gospel of God amid much opposition. ³ For our exhortation was not from deceit, nor from uncleanness, nor in guile. ⁴ But as we were allowed by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not to please men, but God, who examines our hearts. ⁵ For neither at any time did we come with flattering words, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed. God is our witness. ⁶ Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you, or from others, even though we might have made demands as the apostles of Christ.

⁷ But we were gentle among you, like a nurse caring for her own children. ⁸ So having great love toward you, we were willing to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you were dear to us. ⁹ For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil. Laboring night and day so as not to be an expense to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. ¹⁰ You and God are witnesses of how pure, upright, and blameless we ourselves behaved among you who believe. ¹¹ As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and commanded every one of you, as a father does his own children, ¹² that you would walk in a manner worthy of God, who has called you to His kingdom and glory.

¹³ For this reason we thank God without ceasing because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which effectively works also in you who believe. ¹⁴ For you, brothers, became followers of the churches of God, which in Judea are in Christ Jesus. You also have suffered the same things from your own countrymen, as they have from the Jews, ¹⁵ who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets and have persecuted us. They do not please God and are contrary to all men, ¹⁶ forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved. In this way they are always piling up their sins, but wrath has come upon them to the extreme.

Paul’s Desire to Visit Again

¹⁷ But we, brothers, being taken from you for a short time, in presence, not in heart, endeavored all the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. ¹⁸ Therefore we wished to come to you—even I, Paul, once and again—but Satan hindered us. ¹⁹ For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Will it not even be you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? ²⁰ You are our glory and joy.

A Life Pleasing to God

4 Finally, brothers, we urge and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as you have learned from us how you ought to walk and to please God, you should excel more and more. ² For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

³ For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality, ⁴ that each one of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, ⁵ not in the lust of depravity, even as the Gentiles who do not know God, ⁶ and that no man take advantage of and defraud his brother in any matter, because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, as we also have forewarned you and testified. ⁷ For God has not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness. ⁸ Therefore he that despises does not despise man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.

⁹ As concerning brotherly love, you do not need me to write to you. For you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. ¹⁰ And indeed, you do have love for all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, that you increase more and more. ¹¹ Learn to be calm, and to conduct your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, ¹² so that you may walk honestly toward those who are outsiders and that you may lack nothing.

The Lord’s Coming

¹³ But I would not have you ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others who have no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and arose again, so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. ¹⁵ For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who are asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall be forever with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Pray for Us

3 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may quickly spread and be glorified, even as it did with you. ² And pray that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men, for not all men have faith. ³ But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. ⁴ We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will do the things which we command you. ⁵ May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Warning Against Idleness

⁶ Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in idleness and not according to the tradition that he received from us. ⁷ For you know how you should follow us. For we were not idle among you, ⁸ neither did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but we worked tirelessly and toiled night and day that we might not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ We did this, not because we did not have that right, but to make ourselves an example for you to follow. ¹⁰ For when we were with you, we commanded you that if any will not work, neither shall he eat.

¹¹ For we hear that there are some among you who live in idleness, mere busybodies, not working at all. ¹² Now, concerning those who are such, we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ that they quietly work and eat their own bread. ¹³ But you, brothers, do not be weary in doing good.

¹⁴ If anyone does not obey our word in this letter, note that man, and do not socialize with him, so that he may be ashamed. ¹⁵ Still, do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Benediction

¹⁶ Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.

¹⁷ I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is the distinguishing mark in every letter: So I write.

¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.