1 Thessalonians 4 - 1 Timothy 5

New King James Version

Plea for Purity

4 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus ^(A)that you should abound more and more, ^(B)just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; ² for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

³ For this is ^(C)the will of God, ^(D)your sanctification: ^(E)that you should abstain from sexual immorality; ^4 (F)that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, ^5 (G)not in passion of lust, ^(H)like the Gentiles ^(I)who do not know God; ⁶ that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord ^(J)is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. ⁷ For God did not call us to uncleanness, ^(K)but in holiness. ^8 (L)Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, ^(M)who^[a] has also given us His Holy Spirit.

A Brotherly and Orderly Life

⁹ But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for ^(N)you yourselves are taught by God ^(O)to love one another; ¹⁰ and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, ^(P)that you increase more and more; ¹¹ that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, ^(Q)to mind your own business, and ^(R)to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, ^12 (S)that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

The Comfort of Christ’s Coming

¹³ But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen ^[b]asleep, lest you sorrow ^(T)as others ^(U)who have no hope. ¹⁴ For ^(V)if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him ^(W)those who ^[c]sleep in Jesus.

¹⁵ For this we say to you ^(X)by the word of the Lord, that ^(Y)we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are ^[d]asleep. ¹⁶ For ^(Z)the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with ^(AA)the trumpet of God. ^(AB)And the dead in Christ will rise first. ^17 (AC)Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them ^(AD)in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus ^(AE)we shall always be with the Lord. ^18 (AF)Therefore comfort one another with these words.

The Day of the Lord

5 But concerning ^(AG)the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. ² For you yourselves know perfectly that ^(AH)the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. ³ For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then ^(AI)sudden destruction comes upon them, ^(AJ)as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. ^4 (AK)But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. ⁵ You are all ^(AL)sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. ^6 (AM)Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but ^(AN)let us watch and be ^[e]sober. ⁷ For ^(AO)those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk ^(AP)are drunk at night. ⁸ But let us who are of the day be sober, ^(AQ)putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For ^(AR)God did not appoint us to wrath, ^(AS)but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ^10 (AT)who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

¹¹ Therefore ^[f]comfort each other and ^[g]edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Various Exhortations

¹² And we urge you, brethren, ^(AU)to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and ^[h]admonish you, ¹³ and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. ^(AV)Be at peace among yourselves.

¹⁴ Now we ^[i]exhort you, brethren, ^(AW)warn those who are ^[j]unruly, ^(AX)comfort the fainthearted, ^(AY)uphold the weak, ^(AZ)be patient with all. ^15 (BA)See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always ^(BB)pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

^16 (BC)Rejoice always, ^17 (BD)pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

^19 (BE)Do not quench the Spirit. ^20 (BF)Do not despise prophecies. ^21 (BG)Test all things; ^(BH)hold fast what is good. ²² Abstain from every form of evil.

Blessing and Admonition

²³ Now may ^(BI)the God of peace Himself ^(BJ)sanctify^[k] you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body ^(BK)be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ He who calls you is ^(BL)faithful, who also will ^(BM)do it.

²⁵ Brethren, pray for us.

²⁶ Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.

²⁷ I charge you by the Lord that this ^[l]epistle be read to all the ^[m]holy brethren.

²⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Greeting

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

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

God’s Final Judgment and Glory

³ We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, ⁴ so that ^(BO)we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God ^(BP)for your patience and faith ^(BQ)in all your persecutions and ^[n]tribulations that you endure, ⁵ which is ^(BR)manifest^[o] evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, ^(BS)for which you also suffer; ^6 (BT)since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with ^[p]tribulation those who trouble you, ⁷ and to give you who are troubled ^(BU)rest with us when ^(BV)the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, ⁸ in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. ^9 (BW)These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and ^(BX)from the glory of His power, ¹⁰ when He comes, in that Day, ^(BY)to be ^(BZ)glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who ^[q]believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

¹¹ Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would ^(CA)count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and ^(CB)the work of faith with power, ^12 (CC)that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Great Apostasy

2 Now, brethren, ^(CD)concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ ^(CE)and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, ^2 (CF)not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of ^[r]Christ had come. ³ Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come ^(CG)unless the falling away comes first, and ^(CH)the man of ^[s]sin is revealed, ^(CI)the son of perdition, ⁴ who opposes and ^(CJ)exalts himself ^(CK)above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits ^[t]as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

⁵ Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? ⁶ And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. ⁷ For ^(CL)the ^[u]mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only ^[v]He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. ⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed, ^(CM)whom the Lord will consume ^(CN)with the breath of His mouth and destroy ^(CO)with the brightness of His coming. ⁹ The coming of the lawless one is ^(CP)according to the working of Satan, with all power, ^(CQ)signs, and lying wonders, ¹⁰ and with all unrighteous deception among ^(CR)those who perish, because they did not receive ^(CS)the love of the truth, that they might be saved. ¹¹ And ^(CT)for this reason God will send them strong delusion, ^(CU)that they should believe the lie, ¹² that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but ^(CV)had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Stand Fast

¹³ But we are ^[w]bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God ^(CW)from the beginning ^(CX)chose you for salvation ^(CY)through ^[x]sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, ¹⁴ to which He called you by our gospel, for ^(CZ)the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ Therefore, brethren, ^(DA)stand fast and hold ^(DB)the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our ^[y]epistle.

¹⁶ Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, ^(DC)who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and ^(DD)good hope by grace, ¹⁷ comfort your hearts ^(DE)and ^[z]establish you in every good word and work.

Pray for Us

3 Finally, brethren, ^(DF)pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, ² and ^(DG)that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; ^(DH)for not all have faith.

³ But ^(DI)the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and ^(DJ)guard you from the evil one. ⁴ And ^(DK)we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you.

⁵ Now may ^(DL)the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

Warning Against Idleness

⁶ But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(DM)that you withdraw ^(DN)from every brother who walks ^(DO)disorderly and not according to the tradition which ^[aa]he received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; ⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s bread ^[ab]free of charge, but worked with ^(DP)labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, ⁹ not because we do not have ^(DQ)authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. ¹¹ For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are ^(DR)busybodies. ¹² Now those who are such we command and ^[ac]exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ ^(DS)that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

¹³ But as for you, brethren, ^(DT)do not grow weary in doing good. ¹⁴ And if anyone does not obey our word in this ^[ad]epistle, note that person and ^(DU)do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. ^15 (DV)Yet do not count him as an enemy, ^(DW)but ^[ae]admonish him as a brother.

Benediction

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

^17 (DY)The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every ^[af]epistle; so I write.

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

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,

² To Timothy, a ^(EA)true son in the faith:

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

No Other Doctrine

³ As I urged you ^(EC)when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may ^[ag]charge some ^(ED)that they teach no other doctrine, ^4 (EE)nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. ⁵ Now ^(EF)the purpose of the commandment is love ^(EG)from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from ^[ah]sincere faith, ⁶ from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to ^(EH)idle talk, ⁷ desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

⁸ But we know that the law is ^(EI)good if one uses it lawfully, ⁹ knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, ¹⁰ for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is ^[ai]contrary to sound doctrine, ¹¹ according to the glorious gospel of the ^(EJ)blessed God which was ^(EK)committed to my trust.

Glory to God for His Grace^(EL)

¹² And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has ^(EM)enabled me, ^(EN)because He counted me faithful, ^(EO)putting me into the ministry, ¹³ although ^(EP)I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an ^[aj]insolent man; but I obtained mercy because ^(EQ)I did it ignorantly in unbelief. ^14 (ER)And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, ^(ES)with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. ^15 (ET)This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that ^(EU)Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. ¹⁶ However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. ¹⁷ Now to ^(EV)the King eternal, ^(EW)immortal, ^(EX)invisible, to ^[ak]God ^(EY)who alone is wise, ^(EZ)be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Fight the Good Fight

¹⁸ This ^[al]charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, ¹⁹ having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, ²⁰ of whom are ^(FA)Hymenaeus and ^(FB)Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to ^(FC)blaspheme.

Pray for All Men

2 Therefore I ^[am]exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, ^2 (FD)for kings and ^(FE)all who are in ^[an]authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and ^[ao]reverence. ³ For this is ^(FF)good and acceptable in the sight ^(FG)of God our Savior, ^4 (FH)who desires all men to be saved ^(FI)and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ^5 (FJ)For there is one God and ^(FK)one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, ^6 (FL)who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, ^7 (FM)for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth ^[ap]in Christ and not lying—^(FN)a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Men and Women in the Church

⁸ I desire therefore that the men pray ^(FO)everywhere, ^(FP)lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; ⁹ in like manner also, that the ^(FQ)women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and ^[aq]moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, ^10 (FR)but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. ¹¹ Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. ¹² And ^(FS)I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. ¹³ For Adam was formed first, then Eve. ¹⁴ And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. ¹⁵ Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

Qualifications of Overseers

3 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a ^[ar]bishop, he desires a good work. ² A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; ³ not ^[as]given to wine, not violent, ^[at]not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not ^[au]covetous; ⁴ one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence ⁵ (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); ⁶ not a ^[av]novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. ⁷ Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the ^(FT)snare of the devil.

Qualifications of Deacons

⁸ Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, ^(FU)not given to much wine, not greedy for money, ⁹ holding the ^[aw]mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. ¹⁰ But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. ¹¹ Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not ^[ax]slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. ¹² Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. ¹³ For those who have served well as deacons ^(FV)obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

The Great Mystery

¹⁴ These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; ¹⁵ but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ^[ay]ground of the truth. ¹⁶ And without controversy great is the ^[az]mystery of godliness:

The Great Apostasy

4 Now the Spirit ^[bb]expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed ^(GC)to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, ^2 (GD)speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience ^(GE)seared with a hot iron, ³ forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. ⁴ For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; ⁵ for it is ^[bc]sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

A Good Servant of Jesus Christ

⁶ If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, ^(GF)nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. ⁷ But ^(GG)reject profane and old wives’ fables, and ^(GH)exercise yourself toward godliness. ⁸ For ^(GI)bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, ^(GJ)having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. ⁹ This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. ¹⁰ For to this end ^[bd]we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, ^(GK)who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. ¹¹ These things command and teach.

Take Heed to Your Ministry

¹² Let no one ^[be]despise your youth, but be an ^(GL)example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, ^[bf]in spirit, in faith, in purity. ¹³ Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to ^[bg]doctrine. ^14 (GM)Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy ^(GN)with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. ¹⁵ Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. ¹⁶ Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

Treatment of Church Members

5 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, ² older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.

Honor True Widows

³ Honor widows who are really widows. ⁴ But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and ^(GO)to repay their parents; for this is ^[bh]good and acceptable before God. ⁵ Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers ^(GP)night and day. ⁶ But she who lives in ^[bi]pleasure is dead while she lives. ⁷ And these things command, that they may be blameless. ⁸ But if anyone does not provide for his own, ^(GQ)and especially for those of his household, ^(GR)he has denied the faith ^(GS)and is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹ Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, ¹⁰ well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

¹¹ But ^[bj]refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, ¹² having condemnation because they have cast off their first ^[bk]faith. ¹³ And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. ¹⁴ Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. ¹⁵ For some have already turned aside after Satan. ¹⁶ If any believing ^[bl]man or woman has widows, let them ^[bm]relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

Honor the Elders

¹⁷ Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. ¹⁸ For the Scripture says, ^(GT)“You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, ^(GU)“The laborer is worthy of his wages.” ¹⁹ Do not receive an accusation against an elder except ^(GV)from two or three witnesses. ²⁰ Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

²¹ I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the ^[bn]elect angels that you observe these things without ^(GW)prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. ²² Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor ^(GX)share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.

²³ No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent ^[bo]infirmities.

²⁴ Some men’s sins are ^(GY)clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. ²⁵ Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.