Living as Those Made Alive in Christ

3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,^(A) set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.^{(B) 2} Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.^{(C) 3} For you died,^(D) and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your^[a] life,^(E) appears,^(F) then you also will appear with him in glory.^(G)

⁵ Put to death,^(H) therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:^(I) sexual immorality,^(J) impurity, lust, evil desires and greed,^(K) which is idolatry.^{(L) 6} Because of these, the wrath of God^(M) is coming.^{[b] 7} You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.^{(N) 8} But now you must also rid yourselves^(O) of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander,^(P) and filthy language from your lips.^{(Q) 9} Do not lie to each other,^(R) since you have taken off your old self^(S) with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self,^(T) which is being renewed^(U) in knowledge in the image of its Creator.^{(V) 11} Here there is no Gentile or Jew,^(W) circumcised or uncircumcised,^(X) barbarian, Scythian, slave or free,^(Y) but Christ is all,^(Z) and is in all.

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves^(AA) with compassion, kindness, humility,^(AB) gentleness and patience.^{(AC) 13} Bear with each other^(AD) and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.^{(AE) 14} And over all these virtues put on love,^(AF) which binds them all together in perfect unity.^(AG)

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ^(AH) rule in your hearts, since as members of one body^(AI) you were called to peace.^(AJ) And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ^(AK) dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom^(AL) through psalms,^(AM) hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.^{(AN) 17} And whatever you do,^(AO) whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks^(AP) to God the Father through him.

Instructions for Christian Households^(AQ)

¹⁸ Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands,^(AR) as is fitting in the Lord.

¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

²⁰ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

²¹ Fathers,^[c] do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

²² Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. ²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance^(AS) from the Lord as a reward.^(AT) It is the Lord Christ you are serving. ²⁵ Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.^(AU)

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

Further Instructions

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

Final Greetings

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

¹⁰ My fellow prisoner Aristarchus^(BL) sends you his greetings, as does Mark,^(BM) the cousin of Barnabas.^(BN) (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^[f] among my co-workers^(BO) for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. ¹² Epaphras,^(BP) who is one of you^(BQ) and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you,^(BR) that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature^(BS) and fully assured. ¹³ I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea^(BT) and Hierapolis. ¹⁴ Our dear friend Luke,^(BU) the doctor, and Demas^(BV) send greetings. ¹⁵ Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea,^(BW) and to Nympha and the church in her house.^(BX)

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

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

¹⁸ I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.^(CB) Remember^(CC) my chains.^(CD) Grace be with you.^(CE)

1 Paul, Silas^[g](CF) and Timothy,^(CG)

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

Grace and peace to you.^(CI)

Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ Faith

² We always thank God for all of you^(CJ) and continually mention you in our prayers.^{(CK) 3} We remember before our God and Father^(CL) your work produced by faith,^(CM) your labor prompted by love,^(CN) and your endurance inspired by hope^(CO) in our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴ For we know, brothers and sisters^[h] loved by God,^(CP) that he has chosen you, ⁵ because our gospel^(CQ) came to you not simply with words but also with power,^(CR) with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know^(CS) how we lived among you for your sake. ⁶ You became imitators of us^(CT) and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering^(CU) with the joy^(CV) given by the Holy Spirit.^{(CW) 7} And so you became a model^(CX) to all the believers in Macedonia^(CY) and Achaia.^{(CZ) 8} The Lord’s message^(DA) rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.^(DB) 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^(DC) to God from idols^(DD) to serve the living and true God,^{(DE) 10} and to wait for his Son from heaven,^(DF) whom he raised from the dead^(DG)—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.^(DH)

Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

2 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you^(DI) was not without results.^{(DJ) 2} We had previously suffered^(DK) and been treated outrageously in Philippi,^(DL) as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.^{(DM) 3} For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives,^(DN) nor are we trying to trick you.^{(DO) 4} On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.^(DP) We are not trying to please people^(DQ) but God, who tests our hearts.^{(DR) 5} You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed^(DS)—God is our witness.^{(DT) 6} We were not looking for praise from people,^(DU) not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles^(DV) of Christ we could have asserted our authority.^{(DW) 7} Instead, we were like young children^[i] among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,^{(DX) 8} so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God^(DY) but our lives as well.^{(DZ) 9} Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked^(EA) night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone^(EB) while we preached the gospel of God to you. ¹⁰ You are witnesses,^(EC) and so is God,^(ED) of how holy,^(EE) righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. ¹¹ For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,^{(EF) 12} encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy^(EG) of God, who calls^(EH) you into his kingdom and glory.

¹³ And we also thank God continually^(EI) because, when you received the word of God,^(EJ) which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. ¹⁴ For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators^(EK) of God’s churches in Judea,^(EL) which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people^(EM) the same things those churches suffered from the Jews ¹⁵ who killed the Lord Jesus^(EN) and the prophets^(EO) and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone ¹⁶ in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles^(EP) so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit.^(EQ) The wrath of God has come upon them at last.^[j]

Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians

¹⁷ But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought),^(ER) out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.^{(ES) 18} For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan^(ET) blocked our way.^{(EU) 19} For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown^(EV) in which we will glory^(EW) in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?^(EX) Is it not you? ²⁰ Indeed, you are our glory^(EY) and joy.