Beginning
1 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the Church of the Thessalonians, which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be with you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 We always give God thanks for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,
3 unceasingly remembering your work of faith and diligent love and the patience of your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ (in the sight of God our Father),
4 knowing - beloved brothers - that you are the Elect of God.
5 For our Gospel did not come to you in word only, but in power also and in the Holy Ghost and much certainty (as you know how we behaved among you for your sakes).
6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord and received the Word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost,
7 so that you were examples to all believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.
8 For the Word of the Lord has resounded from you - not only in Macedonia and in Achaia - but in all quarters. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we need not say anything.
9 For they themselves tell of how we approached you and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
10 and to look for His Son from Heaven - Whom He raised from the dead – Who is Jesus; Who delivers us from the wrath to come.
2 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain.
2 But even after we had suffered before (and were insulted at Philippi, as you know) we were emboldened by God to speak the Gospel of God to you with much struggle.
3 For our encouragement was not in error, nor of impurity, nor by deceit.
4 But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel, so we speak - not as those who please man, but God, Who examines our hearts.
5 Nor did we ever at any time use flattering words (as you know), nor cloaked covetousness. God is our witness.
6 Nor did we seek the praise of man - either by you or by others - when we might have imposed on you as the Apostles of Christ.
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherishes her children.
8 Having this affection toward you, it was our pleasure to have shared with you not only the Gospel of God, but also our own souls, because you were dear to us.
9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail. For we labored day and night (so that we would not be a burden to any of you) and preached to you the Gospel of God.
10 You and God are witnesses of how holily, and justly, and unblameably we behaved among you who believe.
11 As you know how we exhorted and comforted and testified to every one of you (as a father to his children).
12 So that you would walk worthy of God, Who has called you to His kingdom, and Glory.
13 For this reason also, we thank God unceasingly that when you received the Word of God (which you heard from us) you did not receive it as the word of man, but as it really is - the Word of God - which also works in you who believe.
14 For brothers, you have become followers of the churches of God (which in Judea are in Christ Jesus) because you have also suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they have from the Judeans,
15 who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own Prophets and have driven us out. And they do not please God and are contrary to all mankind
16 and forbid us to preach to the Gentiles (so that they might be saved), always fulfilling their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost.
17 But since, brothers, we were kept from you for a season (as far as sight, but not in the heart), we were eager to see your face with great desire.
18 Therefore, we would have come to you (I Paul, at least once or twice) but Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
20 Yes! You are our glory and joy!
3 Therefore, since we could endure it no longer, we thought it good to remain at Athens alone;
2 and have sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God and our fellow laborer in the Gospel of Christ, to establish you and to comfort you regarding your faith;
3 so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.
4 For truly we told you before (when we were with you) that we would suffer tribulations even as it happened. And you know it.
5 For this reason, when I could no longer bear it, I sent him. So that I might know of your faith, lest the tempter had tempted you in any way and that our labor had been in vain.
6 But now, lately, when Timothy came from you to us and brought us good tidings of your faith and love (and that you have good remembrance of us always, desiring to see us, as we also you),
7 therefore brothers, in all our affliction and necessity, we were encouraged by you through your faith.
8 For now if you stand fast in the Lord, we are alive!
9 For what thanks can we render to God for you - for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God,
10 night and day, praying exceedingly – so that we might see your face and accomplish that which is lacking in your faith?
11 Now may God himself - even our Father - and our Lord Jesus Christ, guide our journey to you.
12 And the Lord increase you and make you abound in love toward one another, and toward all, even as we do toward you;
13 to make your hearts stable and unblameable in holiness before God, and our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
4 Furthermore, we urge and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, brothers, that you increase more and more in how you ought to walk and to please God (as you have received from us).
2 For you know what Commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God: your sanctification. And that you should abstain from fornication;
4 so that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in holiness and honor,
5 not in the passion of lust (as the Gentiles do, who do not know God),
6 so that no one oppresses or defrauds his brother in any matter. For the Lord is Avenger of all such things, as we also have told you previously, and testified.
7 For God has not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness.
8 Therefore, the one who ignores these things, does not ignore man, but God (Who has also given His Holy Spirit).
9 But concerning brotherly love, you do not need me to write to you. For you are taught by God to love one another.
10 And, indeed, you do so to all the brothers throughout all Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to increase more and more
11 and to earnestly endeavor to be quiet and mind your own business; and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
12 so that you may behave honorably toward those who are outside, and that you lack nothing.
13 Brothers, I would not have you be ignorant concerning those who are asleep, lest you mourn as others who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus is dead and is risen, so also will God bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For we say this to you by the Word of the Lord: that we who live - and remain until the coming of the Lord - shall not precede those who sleep.
16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first.
17 Then shall we who live and remain be caught up with them also in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
5 But of the times and seasons, brothers, you have no need for me to write to you.
2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say “Peace and safety”, then sudden destruction shall come upon them, as labor upon a woman with child. And they shall not escape.
4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that that day shall come on you as a thief.
5 You are all children of light, and children of the Day. We are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep as others do. But, let us watch and be sober.
7 For those who sleep, sleep in the night. And those who are drunk, are drunk in the night.
8 But let us who are of the Day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and the hope of salvation for a helmet.
9 For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by means of our Lord Jesus Christ;
10 Who died for us so that - whether we wake or sleep - we would live together with Him.
11 Therefore, exhort one another. And edify one another, just as you are doing.
12 Now, we urge you, brothers, that you acknowledge those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you.
13 Hold them in singular love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
14 We desire, brothers, that you admonish those who are out of order, comfort the faint-hearted, bear with the weak, be patient toward all.
15 See that no one recompenses evil for evil to anyone. But always follow that which is good, both toward yourselves and toward all.
16 Rejoice always.
17 Pray continually.
18 Give thanks in all things. For this is the will of God toward you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not ignore prophecy.
21 Test all things. Keep that which is good.
22 Abstain from any appearance of evil.
23 Now, may the very God of Peace sanctify you completely. And may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless, until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is He Who calls you. He will also do it.
25 Pray for us, brothers.
26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
27 I charge you in the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brothers.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, Amen.
(The first Epistle to the Thessalonians, written from Athens.)
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