Anxiety in Athens

Therefore, when we could no longer stand it, we thought it was better to be left alone in Athens.(A) And we sent Timothy,(B) our brother and God’s coworker[a] in the gospel of Christ,(C) to strengthen and encourage you concerning your faith, so that no one will be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. In fact, when we were with you, we told you in advance that we were going to experience affliction, and as you know, it happened. For this reason, when I could no longer stand it, I also sent him to find out about your faith, fearing that the tempter had tempted you and that our labor might be for nothing.

Encouraged by Timothy

But now Timothy has come to us(D) from you and brought us good news about your faith and love. He reported that you always have good memories of us and that you long to see us, as we also long to see you.(E) Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and affliction, we were encouraged about you through your faith. For now we live, if you stand firm(F) in the Lord. How can we thank God for you in return for all the joy(G) we experience before our God because of you, 10 as we pray very earnestly night and day to see you face to face(H) and to complete what is lacking in your faith?(I)

Prayer for the Church

11 Now may our God and Father(J) himself, and our Lord Jesus,(K) direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love(L) for one another(M) and for everyone, just as we do for you. 13 May he make your hearts blameless(N) in holiness(O) before our God and Father at the coming(P) of our Lord(Q) Jesus with all his saints. Amen.[b]

The Call to Sanctification

Additionally then, brothers and sisters, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received instruction from us on how you should live and please God—as you are doing[c]—do this even more. For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

For this is God’s will,(R) your sanctification:(S) that you keep away(T) from sexual immorality, that each of you knows how to control his own body[d] in holiness and honor, not with lustful passions,(U) like the Gentiles, who don’t know God. This means one must not transgress against and take advantage(V) of a brother or sister in this manner, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses, as we also previously told and warned you. For God has not called us to impurity(W) but to live in holiness. Consequently, anyone who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.(X)

Loving and Working

About brotherly love: You don’t need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by God(Y) to love one another.(Z) 10 In fact, you are doing this toward all the brothers and sisters in the entire region of Macedonia.(AA) But we encourage you, brothers and sisters, to do this even more, 11 to seek to lead a quiet life,(AB) to mind your own business,[e] and to work(AC) with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 so that you may behave properly(AD) in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone.[f](AE)

The Comfort of Christ’s Coming

13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.(AF) 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose(AG) again,(AH) in the same way, through Jesus,(AI) God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For we say this to you by a word from the Lord:(AJ) We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming(AK) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.(AL) 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout,[g](AM) with the archangel’s(AN) voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ(AO) will rise first. 17 Then(AP) we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds(AQ) to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage[h] one another with these words.

The Day of the Lord

About the times and the seasons:(AR) Brothers and sisters, you do not need anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord(AS) will come just like a thief(AT) in the night. When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction(AU) will come upon them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief.(AV) For you are all children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.(AW) So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled(AX) and put on the armor(AY) of faith and love, and a helmet(AZ) of the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord(BA) Jesus Christ,(BB) 10 who died for us,(BC) so that whether we are awake or asleep,(BD) we may live together with him.(BE) 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.

Exhortations and Blessings

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to give recognition(BF) to those who labor among you and lead you[i] in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to regard them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace(BG) among yourselves. 14 And we exhort you, brothers and sisters:(BH) warn those who are idle,[j] comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient(BI) with everyone. 15 See to it that no one repays evil for evil(BJ) to anyone,(BK) but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.(BL) 16 Rejoice(BM) always, 17 pray constantly, 18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will(BN) for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Don’t stifle the Spirit. 20 Don’t despise prophecies, 21 but test all things.(BO) Hold on to what is good. 22 Stay away(BP) from every kind of evil.

23 Now may the God of peace(BQ) himself sanctify you completely. And may your whole spirit,(BR) soul, and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming(BS) of our Lord(BT) Jesus Christ.(BU) 24 He who calls(BV) you(BW) is faithful; he will do it. 25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us also. 26 Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers and sisters.(BX) 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Footnotes

  1. 3:2 Other mss read servant
  2. 3:13 Other mss omit Amen.
  3. 4:1 Lit walking
  4. 4:4 Or to acquire his own wife; lit to possess his own vessel
  5. 4:11 Lit to practice one’s own things
  6. 4:12 Or not need anything, or not be in need
  7. 4:16 Or command
  8. 4:18 Or comfort
  9. 5:12 Or care for you
  10. 5:14 Or who are disorderly, or who are undisciplined

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