Results of Justification

5 ^(A)Therefore, having been justified by faith, ^[a](B)we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we also have ^(C)obtained our introduction by faith into this grace ^(D)in which we stand; and ^[b]we celebrate in hope of the glory of God. ^3 (E)And not only this, but ^[c]we also ^(F)celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about ^(G)perseverance; ⁴ and ^(H)perseverance, ^(I)proven character; and proven character, hope; ⁵ and hope ^(J)does not disappoint, because the love of God has been ^(K)poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

⁶ For while we were still ^(L)helpless, ^(M)at the right time ^(N)Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For one will hardly die for a righteous person; ^[d]though perhaps for the good person someone would even dare to die. ⁸ But God ^(O)demonstrates ^(P)His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, ^(Q)Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, having now been justified ^[e](R)by His blood, we shall be saved ^(S)from the wrath of God through Him. ¹⁰ For if while we were ^(T)enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved ^[f](U)by His life. ^11 (V)And not only this, but ^[g]we also celebrate in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received ^(W)the reconciliation.

¹² Therefore, just as through ^(X)one man sin entered into the world, and ^(Y)death through sin, and ^(Z)so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned— ¹³ for ^[h]until the Law sin was in the world, but ^(AA)sin is not ^[i]counted against anyone when there is no law. ¹⁴ Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned ^(AB)in the likeness of the ^[j]violation committed by Adam, who is a ^[k](AC)type of Him who was to come.

¹⁵ But ^[l]the gracious gift is not like the offense. For if by the offense of ^(AD)the one ^(AE)the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by ^(AF)the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many. ¹⁶ The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand ^(AG)the judgment arose from one offense, ^[m]resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the gracious gift arose from many offenses, ^[n]resulting in justification. ¹⁷ For if by the offense of the one, death reigned ^(AH)through the one, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness ^(AI)reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

¹⁸ So then, as through ^(AJ)one offense ^[o]the result was condemnation to all mankind, so also through one ^(AK)act of righteousness ^[p]the result was ^(AL)justification of life to all mankind. ¹⁹ For as through the one man’s disobedience ^(AM)the many ^(AN)were made sinners, so also through ^(AO)the obedience of the One ^(AP)the many will be made righteous. ^20 [q](AQ)The Law came in so that the offense would increase; but where sin increased, ^(AR)grace abounded all the more, ²¹ so that, as ^(AS)sin reigned in death, so also ^(AT)grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Excellence of Love

13 If I speak with the ^(A)tongues of mankind and of ^(B)angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a ^(C)clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of ^(D)prophecy and know all ^(E)mysteries and all ^(F)knowledge, and if I have ^(G)all faith so as to ^(H)remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ And if I ^(I)give away all my possessions to charity, and if I ^(J)surrender my body so that I may ^[a]glory, but do not have love, it does me no good.

⁴ Love ^(K)is patient, love is kind, it ^(L)is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not ^(M)arrogant. ⁵ It does not act disgracefully, it ^(N)does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, ^(O)does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, ^6 (P)it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but ^(Q)rejoices with the truth; ⁷ it ^[b](R)keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸ Love never fails; but if there are gifts of ^[c](S)prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are ^(T)tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with. ⁹ For we ^(U)know in part and prophesy in part; ¹⁰ but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away with. ¹¹ When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I ^[d]became a man, I did away with childish things. ¹² For now we ^(V)see in a mirror ^[e]dimly, but then ^(W)face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also ^(X)have been fully known. ¹³ But now faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the ^[f]greatest of these is ^(Y)love.

Giving Thanks for These Believers

1 ^(A)Paul, ^(B)Silvanus, and ^(C)Timothy,

To the ^(D)church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: ^(E)Grace to you and peace.

^2 (F)We always give thanks to God for all of you, ^(G)making mention of you in our prayers; ³ constantly keeping in mind your ^(H)work of faith and labor of ^(I)love and ^[a](J)perseverance of hope ^[b]in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of ^(K)our God and Father, ⁴ knowing, ^(L)brothers and sisters, beloved by God, ^(M)His choice of you; ⁵ for our ^(N)gospel did not come to you in word only, but also ^(O)in power and in the Holy Spirit and with ^(P)full conviction; just as you know ^(Q)what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sakes. ⁶ You also became ^(R)imitators of us and of the Lord, ^(S)having received ^(T)the word during great affliction with the ^(U)joy of the Holy Spirit, ⁷ so that you became an example to all the believers in ^(V)Macedonia and ^(W)Achaia. ⁸ For ^(X)the word of the Lord has ^(Y)sounded forth from you, not only in ^(Z)Macedonia and ^(AA)Achaia, but ^(AB)in every place the news of your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything. ⁹ For they themselves report about us ^[c]as to the kind of ^(AC)reception we had with you, and how you ^(AD)turned to God ^(AE)from ^[d]idols to serve ^[e](AF)a living and true God, ¹⁰ and to ^(AG)wait for His Son from ^[f]heaven, whom He ^(AH)raised from the dead, that is, Jesus who ^(AI)rescues us from ^(AJ)the wrath to come.

The Day of the Lord

5 Now as to the ^(A)periods and ^[a]times, brothers and sisters, you ^(B)have no need of anything to be written to you. ² For you yourselves know full well that ^(C)the day of the Lord is coming ^(D)just like a thief in the night. ³ While they are saying, “^(E)Peace and safety!” then ^(F)sudden destruction ^[b]will come upon them like ^(G)labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in ^(H)darkness, so that the day would overtake you ^[c](I)like a thief; ⁵ for you are all ^(J)sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of ^(K)darkness; ⁶ so then, let’s not ^(L)sleep as ^[d](M)others do, but let’s be alert and ^[e](N)sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk, ^(O)get drunk at night. ⁸ But since ^(P)we are of the day, let’s ^(Q)be ^[f]sober, having put on the ^(R)breastplate of ^(S)faith and love, and as a ^(T)helmet, the ^(U)hope of salvation. ⁹ For God has not destined us for ^(V)wrath, but for ^(W)obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ^10 (X)who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. ¹¹ Therefore, ^[g]encourage one another and ^(Y)build one another up, just as you also are doing.

Christian Conduct

¹² But we ask you, brothers and sisters, to ^(Z)recognize those ^(AA)who diligently labor among you and ^[h](AB)are in leadership over you in the Lord, and give you ^[i]instruction, ¹³ and that you regard them very highly in love because of their work. ^(AC)Live in peace with one another. ¹⁴ We urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish ^(AD)the ^[j]unruly, encourage ^(AE)the fainthearted, help ^(AF)the weak, be ^(AG)patient with everyone. ¹⁵ See that ^(AH)no one repays another with evil for evil, but always ^(AI)seek what is good for one another and for all people. ^16 (AJ)Rejoice always, ^17 (AK)pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything ^(AL)give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. ^19 (AM)Do not quench the Spirit, ²⁰ do not utterly reject ^[k](AN)prophecies, ²¹ but ^(AO)examine everything; ^(AP)hold firmly to that which is good, ²² abstain from every ^[l]form of evil.

²³ Now ^(AQ)may the God of peace ^(AR)Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your ^(AS)spirit and soul and body be kept complete, ^(AT)without blame at ^(AU)the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ^24 (AV)Faithful is He who ^(AW)calls you, and He also will do it.

²⁵ Brothers and sisters, ^(AX)pray for us^[m].

^26 (AY)Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. ²⁷ I put you under oath by the Lord to ^(AZ)have this letter read to all the ^(BA)brothers and sisters.

^28 (BB)May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.