Colossians 4 - 1 Thessalonians 2

New International Version

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^[d](AK) and Timothy,^(AL)

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

Grace and peace to you.^(AN)

Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ Faith

² We always thank God for all of you^(AO) and continually mention you in our prayers.^{(AP) 3} We remember before our God and Father^(AQ) your work produced by faith,^(AR) your labor prompted by love,^(AS) and your endurance inspired by hope^(AT) in our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴ For we know, brothers and sisters^[e] loved by God,^(AU) that he has chosen you, ⁵ because our gospel^(AV) came to you not simply with words but also with power,^(AW) with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know^(AX) how we lived among you for your sake. ⁶ You became imitators of us^(AY) and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering^(AZ) with the joy^(BA) given by the Holy Spirit.^{(BB) 7} And so you became a model^(BC) to all the believers in Macedonia^(BD) and Achaia.^{(BE) 8} The Lord’s message^(BF) rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.^(BG) 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^(BH) to God from idols^(BI) to serve the living and true God,^{(BJ) 10} and to wait for his Son from heaven,^(BK) whom he raised from the dead^(BL)—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.^(BM)

Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

2 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you^(BN) was not without results.^{(BO) 2} We had previously suffered^(BP) and been treated outrageously in Philippi,^(BQ) as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.^{(BR) 3} For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives,^(BS) nor are we trying to trick you.^{(BT) 4} On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.^(BU) We are not trying to please people^(BV) but God, who tests our hearts.^{(BW) 5} You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed^(BX)—God is our witness.^{(BY) 6} We were not looking for praise from people,^(BZ) not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles^(CA) of Christ we could have asserted our authority.^{(CB) 7} Instead, we were like young children^[f] among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,^{(CC) 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^(CD) but our lives as well.^{(CE) 9} Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked^(CF) night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone^(CG) while we preached the gospel of God to you. ¹⁰ You are witnesses,^(CH) and so is God,^(CI) of how holy,^(CJ) 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,^{(CK) 12} encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy^(CL) of God, who calls^(CM) you into his kingdom and glory.

¹³ And we also thank God continually^(CN) because, when you received the word of God,^(CO) 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^(CP) of God’s churches in Judea,^(CQ) which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people^(CR) the same things those churches suffered from the Jews ¹⁵ who killed the Lord Jesus^(CS) and the prophets^(CT) 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^(CU) so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit.^(CV) The wrath of God has come upon them at last.^[g]

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),^(CW) out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.^{(CX) 18} For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan^(CY) blocked our way.^{(CZ) 19} For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown^(DA) in which we will glory^(DB) in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?^(DC) Is it not you? ²⁰ Indeed, you are our glory^(DD) and joy.