Book of Common Prayer

¹² We beseech you, brethren, to recognize those who labour among you, and have the oversight of you in the Lord and give you exhortation – ¹³ to have them the more in love for their work’s sake, and be at peace with them.

¹⁴ We desire you, brethren, to warn those who are unruly, comfort the faint-hearted, bear up the weak, and have continual patience toward all people. ¹⁵ See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and among all people.

¹⁶ Rejoice always. ¹⁷ Pray continually. ¹⁸ In all things give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

¹⁹ Quench not the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise prophesying. ²¹ Examine all things, and keep that which is good. ²² Keep from every appearance of evil. ²³ May the very God of peace sanctify you thoroughly. And I pray God that your whole spirit, soul, and body may be kept faultless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Faithful is he who called you, who will also do it.

²⁵ Brethren, pray for us. ²⁶ Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.

²⁷ I charge you in the Lord to read this epistle to all the holy brethren. ²⁸ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  Amen.

The end of the first epistle to
the Thessalonians.
Sent from
Athens.

²⁹ And he told them a similitude: Consider the fig tree, and all other trees. ³⁰ When they shoot forth their buds, you see and can tell for your own selves that summer is then nigh at hand. ³¹ So likewise, when you see these things come to pass, understand that the kingdom of God is near. ³² Truly I say to you, this generation shall not pass till all be fulfilled. ³³ Heaven and earth shall pass, but my words shall not pass.

³⁴ Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be overcome with excess of eating, and drunkenness, and worldly cares, and that day come on you unawares. ³⁵ For as a snare shall it come upon all who sit on the face of the earth. ³⁶ Watch therefore continually, and pray that you may obtain grace to escape all this that is to come, and that you may stand before the Son of man.

³⁷ In the daytime he taught in the temple, and at night he went out and stayed on the Mount of Olives. ³⁸ And all the people came to him in the morning in the temple, to hear him.