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1 Thessalonians 1-5

Salutation

Chapter 1

Address and Greeting. ¹Paul, Silvanus,^[a] and Timothy to the Church of Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace.

Evangelization Is the Work of the Spirit^[b]

A Model for All Believers.^[c] ²We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers. ³We constantly remember before our God and Father your work of faith and your labor of love and your perseverance in hope^[d] in our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴Brethren, beloved by God, we know that he has chosen you, ⁵because our gospel^[e] came to you not merely in words alone but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with profound conviction. And you are fully aware what sort of people we proved to be when we were among you for your sake.

⁶And you in turn became imitators^[f] of us and of the Lord, for despite great suffering you received the word with joy in the Holy Spirit, ⁷so that you became a model for all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.^[g]

⁸Not only has the word of the Lord rung forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but also your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore, we do not have the need to speak about it. ⁹For the people themselves report what kind of reception we had from you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God ¹⁰and await his Son from heaven whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who will deliver us from the wrath that is to come.

Chapter 2

Paul’s Loving Treatment of the Thessalonians.^[h] ¹You yourselves are well aware, brethren, that our visit to you has not been in vain. ²Although we had suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you surely recall, God gave us the courage to declare the gospel of God to you despite great opposition.

³The exhortation we impart does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery. ⁴God has judged us worthy to be entrusted with the gospel. Therefore, when we speak, our intention is not to please human beings but to please God who tests our hearts.

⁵As you are also aware, and as God is our witness, we have never resorted to flattering words or to your sense of greed. ⁶Neither did we seek praise from human beings, whether from you or from others.

⁷As apostles of Christ, we could have imposed our will on you,^[i] yet we were as gentle in our treatment of you as a mother nursing and caring for her own children. ⁸Our affection for you was so great that we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our very lives, because you had become so dear to us.

⁹You surely remember, brethren, our toil and drudgery as we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed the gospel of God to you. ¹⁰You are witnesses, as is God, that our treatment of you who believed has been devout, upright, and blameless.

¹¹As you are well aware, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children, ¹²urging and encouraging you and pleading with you to lead lives worthy of God who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

¹³The Word of God Is at Work.^[j] We also unceasingly give thanks to God because, when we handed on the word of God to you, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it truly is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. ¹⁴Indeed, brethren, you have become imitators of the Churches of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you have suffered the same treatment from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, ¹⁵who killed both the Lord Jesus and the Prophets and also persecuted us.

They displease God and have become enemies of the entire human race ¹⁶by trying to prevent us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way, they constantly reach the full measure of their sins. The wrath of God has begun to overtake them at last.

¹⁷The Glory and Joy of the Apostles.^[k] Brethren, when we were separated from you for a brief time—in body but not in heart—we had an intense longing to see you again face to face. ¹⁸Therefore, we were determined to come to visit you—I, Paul, on more than one occasion—but Satan thwarted us.^[l] ¹⁹For what is our hope or our joy or our crown of honor in the presence of our Lord Jesus upon his return? Is it not you yourselves? ²⁰You truly are our glory and our joy.^[m]

Chapter 3

Standing Firm in the Lord.^[n] ¹Therefore, when we^[o] could not stand it any longer, we decided to remain alone in Athens. ²We sent Timothy, our brother and coworker for God^[p] in the gospel of Christ, to confirm and encourage you in your faith, ³so that no one might be troubled by these hardships.

You yourselves realize that we were destined to endure such afflictions. ⁴In fact, when we were with you, we warned you beforehand that we could suffer persecution, and that is what has now come to pass, as you are well aware. ⁵For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn of your faith, lest the tempter might have put you to the test and all our labor might have been for naught.

⁶But Timothy has just now returned to us from you and brought us the joyful news of your faith and love. He tells us that you always speak fondly of us and long to see us just as much as we long to see you.^[q] ⁷For this reason, brethren, in the midst of our distress and hardship we have been reassured by your faith. ⁸For now we live inasmuch as you stand firm in the Lord.

Plea for Growth in Holiness. ⁹How can we possibly give thanks to God for all the joy we feel in the presence of our God because of you? ¹⁰We pray fervently day and night that we will be allowed to see you face to face once again and complete whatever may be lacking in your faith.

¹¹May our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus prepare the way to you. ¹²May the Lord^[r] cause your love to increase and overflow for one another and for everyone else, just as our love does for you. ¹³May he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may stand blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.^[s] [Amen.]

God Wills Your Sanctification^[t]

Chapter 4

Respect for the Body.^[u] ¹Finally, brethren, you learned from us how you ought to live so that you may be pleasing to God—and as you are indeed doing. Now we ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus to do so even more. ²For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

³It is the will of God that you should lead a life of sanctity. You must refrain from sexual immorality. ⁴Each of you must learn to acquire a wife from pure and honorable motives, ⁵not to gratify passion^[v] like the Gentiles who do not know God. ⁶No one is ever to wrong or take advantage of a brother in this regard.

As we have previously instructed you and solemnly warned you, the Lord is the avenger in all this. ⁷For God has called us to holiness, not to impurity. ⁸Therefore, anyone who rejects these instructions^[w] rejects not human authority but the God who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.

An Honorable Life.^[x] ⁹In respect to brotherly love, there is no necessity to write to you about that, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. ¹⁰And indeed you have shown your love to all the brethren throughout Macedonia. However, we urge you, brethren, to make even greater progress in this regard.

¹¹Strive to live quietly, to attend to your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you.^[y] ¹²In this way, you will earn the respect of outsiders and not have to be dependent on anyone.

¹³The Dead and the Living at the Lord’s Coming.^[z] We do not wish you to be uncertain, brethren, about those who have fallen asleep.^[aa] You should not grieve as do those who have no hope. ¹⁴For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so too do we believe that God will bring forth with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

¹⁵Indeed, we can assure you, on the word of the Lord himself, that we who are still alive at the coming of the Lord will not have any advantage over those who have fallen asleep.^[ab] ¹⁶When the command is given, at the sound of the archangel’s voice and the call of God’s trumpet, the Lord himself will descend from heaven, and those who have died in Christ will be the first to rise.

¹⁷Then those of us who are still alive and are left will be caught up^[ac] together with them on clouds in the air to meet the Lord. And so, we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸Therefore, comfort one another^[ad] with these words.

Chapter 5

The Christian Life Is One Long Vigil.^[ae] ¹In regard to specific dates and times,^[af] brethren, it is not necessary to write you. ²For you yourselves are fully aware that the Day of the Lord^[ag] will come like a thief in the night. ³When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” instant destruction^[ah] will overwhelm them, in the manner that labor pains suddenly come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no means of escape.

⁴However, brethren, you do not live in darkness, and therefore that Day will not catch you unawares like a thief. ⁵For all of you are children of the light^[ai] and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶So we must not fall asleep as the others do, but we must stay alert and sober.

⁷Those who sleep do so at night, and those who get drunk do so at night. ⁸But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, arming ourselves with faith and love as our breastplate and the hope of salvation as our helmet.^[aj] ⁹^[ak]For God has not destined us to suffer wrath, but to achieve salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. ¹¹Therefore, encourage one another and strengthen one another, as indeed you are doing.

Building Up the Community^[al]

¹²Show Respect for Leaders.^[am]Brethren, we beg you to respect those whose duty it is to labor among you as your leaders in the Lord and to admonish you. ¹³Show the highest esteem for them in love because of their work. Be at peace with one another.

¹⁴^[an]We also exhort you, brethren, to admonish those who are idle, encourage those who are afraid, support those who are weak, and be patient with everybody. ¹⁵Make sure that no one pays back evil for evil. Rather, always aim to achieve what is best for each other and for everyone.

¹⁶^[ao]Rejoice always; ¹⁷pray continually; ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

¹⁹Do Not Extinguish the Spirit.^[ap] Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰Do not despise prophecies.^[aq] ²¹Test everything, and hold fast to what is good. ²²Avoid every form of evil.

Conclusion^[ar]

²³Final Prayer. May the God of peace himself grant you the gift of perfect sanctity, and may you—spirit and soul and body^[as]—be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴The one who calls you is faithful, and he will accomplish this.

²⁵Final Greeting. Pray for us, brethren. ²⁶Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. ²⁷I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren.

²⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Footnotes

1 Thessalonians 1:1 Silvanus: the Roman form of the Hebrew name “Silas”; this man, along with Timothy, was a fellow worker with Paul in the Macedonian apostolate (see Acts 16–18). Church: ekklesia in Greek, it was originally used of the People of God in the Old Testament; it designates here the Messianic gathering convoked by Jesus. The term Church is further defined as those who are “in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Being in union with these two persons of the Deity means a new sphere of life, on an infinitely higher plane. Grace and peace: i.e., Messianic blessings that find their basis in both persons, the Father and Jesus Christ, Lord, as the basis for the community’s existence.
1 Thessalonians 1:2 This is a magnificent passage in which Paul describes his experience as a missionary in an important pagan city. He has had faith in the efficacy of the Gospel and its universal power. He has not hesitated to seek out pagans, those who were once thought to be excluded from God’s kingdom. The Spirit of Pentecost breathes everywhere.
1 Thessalonians 1:2 In the announcement of the Gospel and the success of his preaching, Paul recognizes the work of the Spirit. He rejoices at the vitality of this young Church. It is God who gives her the power to break away from the pagan life. What a radical change of life conversion entails for the converts! It means turning away from idols, i.e., from all that deceives, and toward the true God to serve him and to await the coming of Jesus Christ. In this very first passage of Christian literature the three divine Persons are named; also listed are the three characteristic virtues of the Christian life: faith, hope, and love. Behind the term wrath in v. 10 there is a whole theology of history (see Rom 1:18—4:25): all human beings are sinners; sin degrades and destroys the person who rejects love and justice. Punishment is a manifestation of God who judges. But by redeeming humanity from sin, Jesus has delivered it from the wrath; he takes away sin and death and gives life—this is the Christian certainty.
1 Thessalonians 1:3 Faith . . . love . . . hope: together with 1 Thes 5:8, this is the earliest mention of the three so-called theological virtues (see 1 Cor 13:13). The accent here is on eschatological hope in accord with the Letter’s emphasis on the Second Coming of Christ (see 1 Thes 1:10; 2:12, 19; 3:13; 4:13—5:11; 5:23).
1 Thessalonians 1:5 Our gospel: this is the Gospel of God the Father (1 Thes 2:8) who originated it and of Christ (1 Thes 3:2) who brought it forth by his atoning death. Paul, Silas, and Timothy had received it through faith and preached it to others. Power: a power residing in the Gospel itself (see Rom 1:16) and also coming from the Holy Spirit (see Rom 15:13, 18f; 1 Cor 2:4f), which delivered the Thessalonians from spiritual bondage.
1 Thessalonians 1:6 Imitators: all Christians are to imitate God (see Eph 5:1) and Christ (see 1 Cor 11:1) as well as their spiritual leaders (see 2 Thes 3:7, 9; 1 Tim 4:12; Tit 2:7; 1 Pet 5:3) and their fellow Christians (see 1 Thes 2:14; 1 Cor 4:6; 11:1), for all believers are one in Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:7 In Macedonia and Achaia: the two Roman provinces in Greece. The phrase amounts to saying “in all Greece.”
1 Thessalonians 2:1 In the quest for disciples, fame, and profit, the teachers of thought and of religion seek to found schools in this city where all currents came together at the time. Paul sketches for himself another portrait, that of messenger of Christ. Fearlessness, openness, and authenticity are the mark of the apostle seized by the Gospel. The missionary fervor takes root in God and in Jesus Christ and transforms human hearts. It then creates ties that are as strong as those of parenthood.
Paul always wanted to combine evangelization with manual work; this was doubtless to earn his own living and not be a burden on anyone, but also to reach out to human beings where they were living their lives (see Acts 20:33-35; 2 Cor 11:7-20; 12:13-18; 2 Thes 3:7-9). But he was also able to devote himself entirely to preaching (see Acts 18:3-5).
1 Thessalonians 2:7 We could have imposed our will on you: another possible translation is: “we could have been a burden to you.” It was accepted among the early Christians that apostles are entitled to the support of the Churches (see 1 Cor 9:3-14; 2 Cor 11:7-11). Paul insisted on this right although he did not always make use of it.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 It is the Word of God that is at work in the preaching of the apostles. Heard and accepted, then recognized as coming from God, it deploys its energy in the life of human beings. It prompts pagan converts to imitate Christ with the same ardor possessed by Christians of the mother Church of Jerusalem. Hence, the converts are not second-class believers. The beautiful title “you who believe” immediately designated those who accepted the Gospel.
We are amazed by the violent indictment leveled by Paul at his compatriots, for on several occasions he states his pride in belonging to the Jewish people (see 2 Cor 11:22; Phil 3:4-6) and proclaims his love for his racial brothers and sisters (see Rom 9:3-5; 10:2—11:2). His reaction here flows from the persecution that the Jewish colony carried out against him at each stage of his mission, whereas in his view the people of the Promise should discover in the Gospel the fulfillment of their historic mission.
Paul reprises the vehement diatribe of the Prophets against the blindness of the chosen people and calls down the wrath of God and his judgment (see 1 Thes 1:10). This threat is addressed against all who oppose the call of salvation that awaits them (see Rom 2:8) and especially against those who hinder others from responding to that call. When Paul paints a picture of the pagan life, he gives hardly more than a nuance of it. Hence, this passage cannot be used to justify any anti-Semitism (see Rom 1:18-22).
1 Thessalonians 2:17 Paul perceives the hand of Satan—i.e., the forces hostile to God and to the fulfillment of human beings—behind everything that paralyzes his missionary action.
1 Thessalonians 2:18 But Satan thwarted us: we do not know how this occurred. Concerning Satan as enemy of the Gospel, (see Rom 16:20; 1 Cor 7:5; 2 Cor 11:14; Eph 6:11-13; 1 Tim 3:6). Hence, he has already been defeated (see Col 2:15), and Christians should not feel overwhelmed by him (see Eph 6:16). His final overthrow is certain (Rev 20:10).
1 Thessalonians 2:20 You truly are our glory and our joy: this is true now (see Phil 4:1) as well as at the Second Coming of the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 3:1 Persecution has ravaged the small community. Sent to these new Christians, Timothy reassures Paul. In the Apostle’s thanksgiving and in his prayer for the continual progress of the community, we divine his deep attachment for Christians that he has evangelized. The missionary’s action must be pervaded by prayer—both private and liturgical.
1 Thessalonians 3:1 We: in this First Letter Paul uses the first person plural extensively. That is not true of the later letters.
1 Thessalonians 3:2 Coworker for God: see also 1 Cor 3:9. Gospel of Christ: see notes on 1 Thes 1:5 and Mk 1:1. Confirm: literally, “build you up.”
1 Thessalonians 3:6 Paul is rendered joyful because of their “faith” (i.e., their right attitude toward God), their “love” (i.e., their right attitude toward others), and their longing “to see” him (i.e., their right attitude toward the Apostle).
1 Thessalonians 3:12 Lord: in Paul’s usage this word is usually applied to Jesus, not the Father (see, e.g., Rom 10:9; 1 Cor 1:2; Phil 2:11).
1 Thessalonians 3:13 Holy ones: usually translated as “saints,” referring to all Christians.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 Conversion to Christ involves a total rejection of the values and the way of life that one previously led. Speaking of sanctification and holiness in Biblical language, we are conscious of being in the presence of the Lord. This gives new value to the destiny, action, and relationships of human beings—nothing is any longer lost in insignificance. In his correspondence, Paul always underlines some important traits for one’s way of life, in keeping with the needs of the community. He does so usually by way of a warm exhortation, but sometimes also by way of a warning. The Christian life is a journey toward a goal: union with God in Christ.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 In the language of the period, two interpretations are possible: that each person should take a spouse in order to live honorably (see 1 Cor 7:2); or that each should exercise self-control and self-respect. In either case, and in light of the dissolute morals of the period, the affirmation of marriage and of sexual morality was a rejection of a meaningless and sordid existence. Paul has a high idea of human beings, for he views them in the call of God addressed to him. The effort of Christians arises from living ties with the divine Persons.
1 Thessalonians 4:5 Acquire a wife . . . gratify passion: another possible translation is: “control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable and not to succumb to lustful passion.”
1 Thessalonians 4:8 Instructions: this word does not necessarily refer to the sayings of Jesus but rather to guidelines set forth in the Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 4:9 God pours the Spirit into the hearts of believers and that Spirit guides them in God’s ways. However, other questions remain: certain Christians, awaiting the imminent coming of the Lord, experience a crisis of laziness (see 2 Thes 3:6-12); they must be seriously reminded of the personal and social life, without which love is but a futile word.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 The early Church strongly believed in the need of Christians to earn their living. However, some of the converts—possibly as a result of their belief in Christ’s imminent return (see 2 Thes 3:11)—were not working and so were letting others support them.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 We are now at the heart of the Letter. Some Christians of Thessalonica have a few difficulties. One or other believer has died, and they cannot shake the image of those beautiful cemeteries built at the edge of cities like “high places” of despair. Christ must appear; this definitive coming mobilizes the hope of all; but will not Christians who have died be deprived of this grand and triumphant coming?
In speaking of this resurrection, Paul uses the images and symbols of the Jewish apocalypses, just as in describing the return of Christ he compares it to the “parousias” or official visits of the emperors to the great cities, where the people escorted them in a lengthy procession. The scene has its grandeur, but the essential is to be found elsewhere: the solid conviction of believers that they are with Christ forever. These words sum up the final message of Christian hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 Those who have fallen asleep: sleep was an especially apt metaphor for death, since the finality and horror of death disappear in the assurance of the resurrection.
1 Thessalonians 4:15 Here Paul seems to be hoping that the parousia would take place within his own lifetime. We can say that while entertaining the possibility of his own death (see 2 Tim 4:6-8) and not wanting to go against Christ’s teaching about the date of the parousia (see Mt 24:48; 25:5; Lk 19:11-27), Paul (and all the first Christians) reckoned on the prospect of remaining alive until Christ’s return (Rom 13:11; 1 Cor 7:26, 29; 10:11; 15:51-52; 16:22; Phil 4:5). The word of the Lord: this may refer to a special revelation or simply be a general reference to the teachings of Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Will be caught up: literally, “will be carried away,” which in the Vulgate is translated by rapiemur. This Latin word has given birth to the idea of the “Rapture,” i.e., that believers will be carried away from the troubles of this world. It simply means that those who are alive on the Last Day will not have to die; they will be transformed.
1 Thessalonians 4:18 Comfort one another: vv. 13-18 are not primarily intended to provide a chronology of future events but rather to urge the Thessalonians to comfort one another.
1 Thessalonians 5:1 The Old Testament announced unceasingly the Day of Yahweh, which would be one of judgment, liberation, gathering of the people, and sometimes of all humankind (see Am 5:18-20). The image is taken over by Christians. In this framework, Paul reprises the teaching of Christ. God alone is the master of time, but human beings must keep vigil in the expectation of God (see Mt 24:36-44; Lk 17:26-37; 21:34-36; Acts 1:7).
Indeed, there is a greater difference between being a Christian and not being one than between day and night. Christians are those who can see clearly, even in the daily conduct of their existence. The Gospel of Jesus, light of the world, becomes in the very practice of life a new way of seeing that goes to the heart of the real and of human destiny.
1 Thessalonians 5:1 Dates and times: a well-known phrase describing the end time (see Acts 1:16f). Apparently, the Thessalonians had already been instructed about the basic features of the Second Coming when Paul had visited them.
1 Thessalonians 5:2 Day of the Lord: the Old Testament uses this phrase as a time of God’s judgment (see Isa 2:12-21; Joel 2:1, 11; Am 5:18; Zep 1:7, 14; Mal 3:23-24) but also of his blessing (see Am 5:18ff; Isa 13; Joel 3:4; 4:16-20). The New Testament uses the phrase in the same sense (see Rom 2:5; 2 Pet 2:9) but also utilizes it in other ways: e.g., the “day of redemption” (Eph 4:30); the “Day of God” (2 Pet 3:12) or “of Christ” (1 Cor 1:8; Phil 1:6); and “that day” (2 Thes 1:10). That Day is the culmination of all things prefigured by signs (see 2 Thes 2:3), but its coming will be like a thief in the night (see Mt 24:43f; Lk 12:39f; 2 Pet 3:10; Rev 3:3; 16:15).
1 Thessalonians 5:3 Destruction: this does not mean annihilation but exclusion from the presence of the Lord (see 2 Thes 1:9), i.e., ruination of one’s life and accomplishments. And it will be a ruin that occurs in an instant. Labor pains: the stress here is not on the pains so much as their suddenness and inevitability. No means of escape: literally, “They will not escape.”
1 Thessalonians 5:5 Children of the light: in Semitic languages, to be “children of [something]” meant to be characterized by it. Christians not only live in the light but are characterized by light.
1 Thessalonians 5:8 Paul makes use of a metaphor of armor that he also utilizes in Rom 13:12; 2 Cor 6:7; 10:4; and Eph 6:13-17. However, he does not affix a particular virtue to the same piece of armor.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 These verses provide a summary of the primitive preaching, which was wholly focused on the deliverance of humanity in Jesus Christ and on a life in union with him. Whether we are awake or asleep: i.e., whether we are alive or dead.
1 Thessalonians 5:12 In this section Paul gives brief but cogent instructions in building a community. He especially lists the responsibilities of Christians toward leaders (vv. 12-13), toward all (vv. 14-15), toward themselves (vv. 16-18), and toward public worship (vv. 19-22).
1 Thessalonians 5:12 Christians must show respect for their leaders, just as those same leaders must show caring leadership for their people. The leaders were undoubtedly the “bishops” and “presbyters” of 1 Tim 3:1-2; 5:17; Tit 1:5. Christians must hold these leaders in the highest esteem and render them wholehearted support in a spirit of love.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 Christians must warn the recalcitrant, such as those who are lazy and do not pull their weight at Thessalonica. They must also encourage the fainthearted, like those troubled about their friends who had died before the Second Coming of Christ (1 Thes 4:13) and confused about what that event meant for themselves (1 Thes 5:1-11). They must also help those afflicted with moral or spiritual weakness in the face of persecution (1 Thes 3:3-5) or temptation (1 Thes 4:3-8) or the like. Finally, they should show patience with everyone. Above all, they should never pay back evil for evil in accord with the words of Christ (see Mt 5:38-42).
1 Thessalonians 5:16 In order to carry out the regulations given in vv. 12-15, Christians need personal communion with God. They are to be joyful always (see Mt 5:11-12; Acts 5:41; 16:25; Phil 1:18; 4:4). Indeed, they are to be “sorrowful, and yet . . . always rejoicing” (2 Cor 6:10). However, this Christian joy does not depend on earthly circumstances or feelings. It stems from what Jesus has done for us supernaturally, which never goes away.
At the same time, Christians are to be constant in prayer. It is vital for them to lift the heart to God while being occupied with their duties. Concerning prayer, see 1 Thes 1:3; 2:13; Rom 1:9-10; Eph 6:18; Col 1:3; 2 Tim 1:3.
Finally, Christians are to give thanks in all circumstances. Regardless of their human situation, they know that God has called them to eternal salvation and gives them the grace to attain it. Therefore, no matter what the circumstances may be, they can remain in a state of thankfulness (see Eph 5:20).
1 Thessalonians 5:19 Paul now speaks about the responsibilities in communal worship. Christians must never extinguish the Spirit (v. 19). He is probably referring to curbing the charisms in any way. Guiding the charisms is necessary, but overcontrol is detrimental. In particular, the gift of prophecy must be esteemed properly and all charismatic manifestations must be duly tested. Any evil that tries to mask itself as a genuine representation of the Spirit must be discarded. Only then can worship be true.
1 Thessalonians 5:20 Prophecies: the reference is not to the Old Testament Prophets but to those who exhorted the Christian communities (see 1 Cor 12:10-29; 13:2; 14:3).
1 Thessalonians 5:23 This Letter concludes like a liturgy: blessing, kiss of peace, request to have the apostolic Letter read publicly, and final wish.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 Spirit and soul and body: i.e., the whole Christian person. The spirit is that which is open to the influence of grace; it is also the source of divine life with the Christian (see Rom 5:5). This is the only place in Paul that refers to this tripartite division.

2 Thessalonians 1-3

Salutation^[a]

Chapter 1

Address and Greeting. ¹Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the Church of Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: ²Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Perseverance in Faith^[b]

A Word of Praise. Brethren, we must always give thanks to God for you, and it is only right that we do so. For your faith grows ever more, and the love that all of you have for one another continues to increase. ⁴Therefore, we boast incessantly of you to the Churches of God for your steadfastness and faith despite all the persecutions and tribulations that you have had to endure.

Judgment and the Coming of the Lord. ⁵All this is proof of God’s just judgment, and it shows that you are worthy of the kingdom of God, for the sake of which you are suffering. ⁶It is only just that God will repay with suffering those who make you suffer ⁷and grant relief to you who are suffering, and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.

⁸He will come in blazing fire to inflict punishment on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. ⁹They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, excluded from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power ¹⁰on that Day when he comes to be glorified by his holy ones and to be adored by all believers, among whom you will be present since you believed the testimony we offered to you.

¹¹Prayer for the Community. Therefore, we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and by his power bring to fulfillment every good resolve and every work of faith. ¹²In this way, the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.^[c]

The Day of the Lord^[d]

Chapter 2

Has the Day of the Lord Already Come?^[e] ¹As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we beg you, brethren: ²do not become too easily thrown into confusion or alarmed, either by something spiritual or by a statement or by a letter claiming to come from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord is already here.^[f] ³Let no one deceive you in any way.

The Adversary and the Obstacle.^[g] That Day cannot come^[h] before the final rebellion occurs and the lawless one is revealed, the son of destruction. ⁴He is the adversary who sets himself in opposition to, and exalts himself above, every so-called god or object of worship, and who even seats himself in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God.

⁵Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you? ⁶And you also know what is now restraining him,^[i] so that he may not be revealed before his time comes. ⁷For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one who restrains it will continue to do so until he is removed.

The Two Comings.^[j] ⁸Then the lawless one will be revealed, and the Lord Jesus will slay him by the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.

⁹His coming will be the work of Satan made manifest in all power and signs and wonders of falsehood, ¹⁰and in every wicked deception designed for those who are perishing because they refused to accept the love of the truth^[k] and thereby gain salvation.

¹¹For this reason, God imposes on them a powerful delusion. They believe what is false, ¹²so that all who have not believed the truth but instead have taken pleasure in wickedness will be condemned.

Never Weary of Doing Good^[l]

Call To Remain Steadfast.^[m]However, we must always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.^[n] ¹⁴It was for this purpose that he called you through our gospel so that you might come to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁵Therefore, stand firm, brethren, and hold fast to the traditions^[o] that you have been taught, whether by word of mouth or by a letter of ours. ¹⁶And may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through his grace gave us unending encouragement and a sure hope,^[p] ¹⁷comfort your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

Chapter 3

Request for Prayers. ¹Finally, brethren, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, as it was with you. ²Pray too that we may be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not all have faith.

³However, the Lord is faithful. He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. ⁴And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do all that we direct you to do. ⁵May the Lord guide your hearts to the love of God and the steadfastness of Christ.

Christian Value of Work.^[q] ⁶In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, brethren, we command you to keep your distance from any of the brethren who are living an idle existence and who disregard the tradition you received from us. ⁷For you yourselves know how you should follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you. ⁸We did not ever accept food from anyone, but with toil and drudgery we worked night and day so that we would not burden any of you. ⁹We did so, not because we have no right to accept such help, but to present ourselves as a model for you to imitate.

¹⁰In fact, even when we were with you, we charged that anyone who was unwilling to work should not eat. ¹¹Now we have been told that some among you are living a life of idleness, not working but acting as busybodies. ¹²We command and urge such people in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and earn their own living.

¹³Brethren, never grow weary of doing what is right. ¹⁴If anyone refuses to obey our instructions in this letter, take note of him and have nothing to do with him so that he may be put to shame. ¹⁵However, do not treat him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Conclusion^[r]

¹⁶Final Prayer. May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

¹⁷Final Blessing. I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. It is the distinguishing mark of every letter of mine. ¹⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Footnotes

2 Thessalonians 1:1 The salutation is identical to that of First Thessalonians (1:1) except for two additions: (1) God is called “our” Father (v. 1), the Father of Christians—his Fatherhood of Jesus is expressed in other Letters (e.g., 2 Cor 1:3; Eph 1:3; 1 Pet 1:3). (2) The phrase “from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” is added to v. 2 to identify the sources of “grace and peace.” Paul regards Jesus as the Deity in the fullest sense since he names him on a par with the Father as coauthor of the favor and the relationship promised in the blessing.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 Paul thanks God for the progress made by his valiant community in their faith, love, courage, and good name. All this will be manifested and judged at the Lord’s Coming, which Paul describes once more by utilizing the dramatic scenario current among the Jews of his day. Woe to those who oppose God, for they will be immediately distanced from the Lord. But what glory there will be for those who believe!
³
The concept of revelation, or apocalypse, that emerges in this passage represents an essential idea of the Old and New Testaments: our religion is, above all else, something that precedes and transcends time. In history God is constantly manifesting himself as the Savior of humanity. To illustrate it, one can have recourse to the grand imaginative visions of the judgments set forth in Isa 24–27; Dan 7–12; Mt 24–25; Mk 13; and Lk 17:22-37; 19:11-27; see also introduction to the Book of Revelation.
2 Thessalonians 1:12 The grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ: another translation possible is: “The grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Thessalonians 2:1 Paul uses the style and manner of apocalypses, but he speaks first and foremost as an apostle. He employs images and symbols to express where he is going and where he is leading the faithful. From the very beginning of Biblical history, God and Satan (i.e., the forces of evil) are involved in an implacable combat in which human beings are at the same time the terrain and the stakes. Christ is the conqueror of these evil forces. His victory, obtained on the cross, will be manifested on the great Day of his majestic return. We must prepare for this Coming.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 Paul indicates that a problem has arisen concerning the circumstances surrounding the Day of the Lord. In times of crisis, there are always falsehood-mongers to whom the faithful give willing ear—but whom they should avoid altogether. So the Apostle intends to set forth certain features of the Day in order to correct what is being falsely claimed.
2 Thessalonians 2:2 Is already here: Paul insists that the Day of the Lord has not already come, for the final days have not begun and their completion is not imminent.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Making use of images borrowed from the Prophets and from the authors of apocalypses, Paul brings on stage the forces of evil and the true witnesses of God: they constitute respectively the adversary and the obstacle. The portrait of the adversary gathers together in one personage all the doers of evil who are based on the historical enemies of God’s people in the Old Testament—especially Antiochus IV Epiphanes (see Dan 11:36) who in his supreme folly wanted to make himself a god.
The obstacle, which was doubtlessly well known to the Thessalonians, stands for a more obscure reality for us; it could refer to the ensemble of believers who work to bring about the Kingdom of God (see also note on 2:6 below). Even though their victory is to be awaited, it is no less assured. This victory is based upon the Paschal Mystery with its twofold aspect of Death and Resurrection. Throughout the centuries, the forces of death and the People of God never cease to confront one another in the life of the world, in the heart of each person.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 That Day cannot come: these words have been supplied in the text in order to bring out more clearly Paul’s meaning; the original sentence is incomplete. The lawless one . . . the son of destruction . . . the adversary: the leader of the rebellion, who will also come to be called “the Antichrist” (1 Jn 2:18; 4:3; 2 Jn 7).
2 Thessalonians 2:6 What is now restraining him: some suggestions about the identity of this obstacle (in addition to the one mentioned in note 2:3b-12 above) are: the Roman State and its emperor; the principle of law embodied in the state; the Holy Spirit through the Church; and the preaching of the Gospel (possibly by Paul himself), for the end could not come until the Gospel was preached to all nations (see Mk 13:10).
2 Thessalonians 2:8 Paul describes what will precede the Lord’s coming. He glimpses, toward the end of human history, a spectacular offensive launched by the forces of evil under the instigation of Satan. A great apostasy will follow (see Mt 24:10-12; Lk 18:8; 21:12-19; 1 Tim 4:1). The lawless one is both anti-God and anti-Christ, but he will not have the last word. On the day, when he thinks he has conquered, he will be confronted with the dazzling manifestation of Christ and completely overcome.
2 Thessalonians 2:10 Love of the truth: one of Paul’s most felicitous expressions, it refers to love of the Gospel, the acceptance of this unprecedented gift that comes from the Father, Christ, and the Spirit. To refuse it is to exclude oneself from love forever.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 Paul is thankful that he and his coworkers can look forward to salvation for themselves and for their converts. The beneficiaries of God’s saving work cannot rest on their laurels, however. They must be ever active in good works and keep the teachings (traditions) of the Church. The Apostle goes on to ask the converts to pray for him and his coworkers and calls down God’s grace on them.
¹³
He also sets forth the proper solution for idlers. The Thessalonians must admonish idlers yet deal charitably with their mistakes. Such persons are not to be cast out of the community, but to be given frequent warnings.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 Here we find the same advice as was given in the First Letter. Christian life unfolds in the love of the three divine Persons; fidelity to the authentic tradition that the apostles have transmitted in writing or by living word; prayer; and constancy of effort.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 These two verses show the harmonious working of all three Persons of the Trinity in the divine plan of salvation: God the Father chooses and calls his people; God the Son shares his glory with his own; and God the Holy Spirit imparts his sanctifying grace. From the beginning: another translation possible is: “as the firstfruits.”
2 Thessalonians 2:15 Traditions: i.e., the teachings contained in tradition; they are both oral and written (see 2 Thes 2:5; 3:6; 1 Cor 11:2), just as was the case with rabbinic law (see note on Mt 15:2ff).
2 Thessalonians 2:16 Jesus is here named before the Father; despite the double subject, the verbs in the Greek text are in the singular number. Could the unity of Father and Son be better expressed?
2 Thessalonians 3:6 In putting work at the service of the community, Paul places it under the sign of love for God, for one’s brothers and sisters, and for the Church. To eat one’s own bread constitutes the primary dignity of a person (v. 10). By demanding exemplary conduct from Christians, Paul remains in line with Jesus and the primitive Church (see Mt 18:15-18; 1 Cor 5:1-13).
2 Thessalonians 3:16 In order to discourage forgeries of his letters (see 2 Thes 2:2), Paul takes care to authenticate the letters that he dictates and causes to be set down—he writes out a few words with his own hand (see also 1 Cor 16:21 and Col 4:18). In the cases of Galatians and Philemon, it appears that Paul wrote more than just the concluding phrases (see Gal 6:11 and Philem 19).

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Chronological

Salutation

Chapter 1

Evangelization Is the Work of the Spirit[b]

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

God Wills Your Sanctification[t]

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Building Up the Community[al]

Conclusion[ar]

Footnotes

Salutation[a]

Chapter 1

Perseverance in Faith[b]

The Day of the Lord[d]

Chapter 2

Never Weary of Doing Good[l]

Chapter 3

Conclusion[r]

Footnotes

Evangelization Is the Work of the Spirit^[b]

God Wills Your Sanctification^[t]

Building Up the Community^[al]

Conclusion^[ar]

Salutation^[a]

Perseverance in Faith^[b]

The Day of the Lord^[d]

Never Weary of Doing Good^[l]

Conclusion^[r]