Chronological
1 Paul[a] and Silvanus[b] and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
We Give Thanks For Your Faith And Love And Endurance
2 We are giving-thanks to God always for you all while making mention of you in our prayers, unceasingly[c] 3 remembering your work of [d] faith and labor of love and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ before our God and Father; 4 knowing, brothers having been loved by God, your election[e], 5 because our good-news did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with great fullness-of-conviction— just as you know what-kind-of men we proved-to-be among you for your sake.
For You Became Imitators of Us And Examples To All
6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, having accepted the word in much affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the ones believing in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded-forth— not only in Macedonia and in Achaia, but in every place your faith toward God has gone-out— so that we are having no need to speak anything! 9 For they themselves are reporting about us as to what-sort-of entrance[f] we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to be serving the living and true God, 10 and to be awaiting His Son from the heavens Whom He raised from the dead— Jesus, the One delivering us from the coming wrath.
You Know What Kind of Men We Were Among You When We Brought God’s Message To You
2 For you yourselves know our entrance to you, brothers— that it has not been[g] empty[h]. 2 But having previously-suffered and been mistreated[i] in Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak the good-news of God to you in a great conflict. 3 For our exhortation[j] is not from[k] error, nor from impurity[l], nor in[m] deceit. 4 But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted-with the good-news, so we speak— not as pleasing people, but God, the One testing our hearts. 5 For neither did we at-any-time come with a word of flattery, as you know; nor with a pretext for greed— God is witness; 6 nor seeking glory from people— neither from you, nor from others, 7 [although] being able to be with weight[n] as apostles of Christ. But we proved-to-be child-like[o] in your midst. As when a nurse[p] cherishes[q] her children, 8 in this manner longing-affectionately for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the good-news of God, but also our own lives[r], because you became beloved ones to us. 9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and hardship— working by night and by day so-as not to be a burden-on[s] any of you, we proclaimed to you the good-news of God. 10 You and God are witnesses how devoutly and righteously and blamelessly we were with[t] you, the ones believing— 11 just-as you know how each one of you, as a father his own children, 12 we were exhorting you and encouraging and testifying so-that you might walk worthily of God, the One calling you into His own kingdom and glory.
And We Thank God You Accepted Our Message As God’s Word, Even Amidst Persecution
13 And for this[u] reason we are indeed[v] giving-thanks to God unceasingly: because having received the word of God heard from us[w], you accepted not the word of humans, but, as it truly is, the word of God, which also is at-work[x] in you, the ones believing. 14 For you became imitators, brothers, of the churches of God existing in Judea in Christ Jesus, because you also suffered the same things by your own countrymen as they also by the Jews— 15 the ones also[y] having killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and having driven us out, and not being pleasing to God, and being contrary[z] to all people, 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles in order that they might be saved, so that they fill-up[aa] the measure of their sins always. But the wrath[ab] came[ac] upon them to the uttermost[ad].
We Sent Timothy To Establish You Amidst Your Afflictions, And That I Might Know Your Faith
17 And we, brothers, having been orphaned from you for a season of an hour in face, not in heart, were more eager[ae] with great desire to see your face. 18 Because we wanted[af] to come to you— I, Paul, both once and twice[ag]— and Satan hindered us. 19 For what[ah] is our hope or joy or crown of boasting— or is it not indeed you!— before our Lord Jesus at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy. 3 1 Therefore, bearing[ai] it no longer, we preferred[aj] to be left-behind in Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and a fellow-worker of God in[ak] the good-news of Christ, so that he might establish[al] you and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 that no one might be disturbed[am] by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed[an] for this. 4 For even when we were with you, we were telling you beforehand that we were going to be afflicted, just as indeed it happened, and just as you know. 5 For this reason, and I bearing it no longer, I sent Timothy so as to know your faith— that the one tempting had not somehow tempted you and our labor proved-to-be in vain[ao].
Timothy Now Returned With Encouraging News About Your Faith And Love. I Am Rejoicing!
6 And Timothy having just-now[ap] come to us from you, and having announced-the-good-news to us as to your faith and love, and that you have a good remembrance of us always[aq], yearning to see us just as we also you— 7 because of this, brothers, we were encouraged over you in all our distress and affliction, through your faith. 8 Because now we live!— if you are standing-firm in the Lord. 9 For what thanksgiving can we return[ar] to God for you for all the joy with which we are-rejoicing[as] because of you before our God?— 10 while praying super-abundantly by night and by day that we may see your face and complete the things lacking from your faith.
May God And Our Lord Jesus Guide Our Ways And Cause Us To Abound In Love
11 Now may our God and Father Himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for everyone (just as we also for you), 13 so that He may establish your hearts so as to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His holy[at] ones. Amen.
Brothers, We Ask You To Abound Even More In Holiness, For This Is God’s Will
4 Finally then, brothers, we ask you, and exhort in the Lord Jesus that just as you received from us how you ought-to be walking and pleasing God (just as you also are walking), that you be abounding more. 2 For you know what commands we gave to you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God: your holiness[au]— that you be abstaining[av] from sexual-immorality; 4 that each of you know-how to acquire[aw] control of his own vessel[ax] in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of [ay] desire[az] as indeed the Gentiles not knowing God; 6 that[ba] no one overstep[bb] and exploit[bc] his brother[bd] in the matter[be]. Because the Lord is the avenger concerning all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly-warned. 7 For God did not call us for[bf] impurity, but in[bg] holiness. 8 So-therefore[bh] the one rejecting is not rejecting a human, but God, the One also giving His Holy Spirit to you.
But You Know From God To Love One Another. We Exhort You To Abound Even More
9 But concerning brotherly-love, you have no need that anyone should be writing to you. For you yourselves are God-taught so-that you might be loving one another. 10 For indeed you are doing it toward all the brothers in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, to be abounding more, 11 and to be ambitious[bi] to be quiet[bj], and to be doing[bk] your own things and working with your own hands just as we commanded you, 12 in order that you may walk properly toward the ones outside and may have need of nothing[bl].
Do Not Grieve Over The Dead In Christ. We Will Rise Together To Be With Him Forever
13 And we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, concerning the ones falling-asleep[bm], in-order-that you may not grieve as indeed the others— the ones not having a hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose-up, so also[bn] God will bring with Him the ones having fallen asleep through[bo] Jesus. 15 For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we— the ones living, the ones remaining[bp] until the coming of the Lord— will in-no-way precede the ones having fallen asleep. 16 Because[bq] the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shouted-command[br], with a voice of an archangel[bs], and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise-up first. 17 Then we— the ones living, the ones remaining— will be snatched-up[bt] together[bu] with them in the clouds[bv] to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 So then, be encouraging[bw] one another with these words.
But You Know The Day of The Lord Will Come Like a Thief In The Night. Keep Watching
5 But concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything should be written to you. 2 For you yourselves accurately know that the day of the Lord comes in this manner— like a thief in the night. 3 When they are saying “peace and security”, then unexpected[bx] destruction suddenly-comes-upon[by] them, just as the birth-pain on the one having a child in the womb. And they will by no means escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that the day should overtake you like a thief. 5 For you all are sons of [bz] light and sons of day. We are not of night, nor of darkness. 6 So then, let us not be sleeping like the others, but let us be keeping-watch[ca] and being sober. 7 For the ones sleeping are sleeping at night. And the ones getting-drunk are-drunk at night. 8 But let us, being of the day, be sober, having put on a breastplate of faith and love, and a helmet: the hope of salvation. 9 Because God did not appoint[cb] us for wrath, but for the obtaining[cc] of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ— 10 the One having died for us in order that whether we are keeping-watch or sleeping[cd], we may live together with Him. 11 Therefore be encouraging one another and building-up one the other, just as you are also doing.
Esteem Your Leaders in Love
12 And we ask you, brothers, to know[ce] the ones laboring among you and leading you in the Lord and admonishing you, 13 and to be esteeming them super-abundantly[cf] in love because of their work. Be living-in-peace among yourselves.
Closing Exhortations
14 Now we exhort you, brothers— be admonishing the disorderly ones, be encouraging[cg] the fainthearted ones, be holding-on-to[ch] the weak ones, be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one gives-back evil for evil to anyone, but always be pursuing the good, both for one another and for everyone. 16 Be rejoicing always, 17 be praying unceasingly, 18 be giving-thanks in everything. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not be quenching[ci] the Spirit, 20 do not be treating prophecies with contempt, 21 but be testing all things. Be holding-on-to the good[cj], 22 be abstaining from every form[ck] of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify[cl] you wholly[cm]. And may your whole[cn] spirit and soul and body be preserved[co] blamelessly at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is the One calling you, Who also will do it. 25 Brothers, be praying also for us. 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I adjure[cp] you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
1 Paul[a] and Silvanus[b] and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We Thank God For Your Faith And Love, And Boast of Your Endurance Amidst Afflictions
3 We ought to be giving-thanks to God always for you, brothers, just as it is fitting, because your faith is growing-abundantly and the love of each one of you all toward one another is increasing, 4 so that we ourselves are boasting in you among the churches of God with reference to your endurance and faith in all your persecutions and afflictions which you are bearing-with—
These Are Evidence of God’s Righteous Judgment Concerning You And Those Afflicting You
5 ... which is evidence[c] of the righteous judgment of [d] God that you will be[e] considered-worthy of the kingdom of God for the sake of which you also[f] are suffering, 6 since it will be a righteous thing with[g] God to repay[h] affliction to the ones afflicting you 7 and to give you, the ones being afflicted, rest[i] along with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with angels of [j] His power 8 in flaming fire, giving[k] punishment[l] to the ones not knowing God and[m] the ones not obeying the good-news of our Lord Jesus— 9 who will pay the penalty: eternal destruction from[n] the presence of the Lord and from the glory of [o] His strength, 10 when He comes to be glorified in[p] His saints and marveled-at [q] among[r] all the ones having believed— because[s] our testimony to you was believed— on that day,
We Pray For God To Fulfill Your Every Desire To Express Your Goodness And Faith
11 ... for which[t] also[u] we are praying always for you in order that our God may consider you worthy of the calling, and may fulfill every desire[v] of goodness[w] and work of [x] faith with [His] power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you and you in Him, according-to[y] the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now Don’t Be Alarmed: The Day of The Lord Has Not Yet Come
2 Now we ask you, brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering-together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your understanding nor alarmed— neither by a spirit[z], nor by a word, nor by a letter as-if through us, how that the day of the Lord is present[aa]. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way, because it will not be present unless the apostasy[ab] comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed[ac]— the son of [ad] destruction, 4 the one opposing and exalting himself over[ae] everything being called god or an object-of-worship[af], so that he sits-down[ag] in the temple[ah] of God displaying[ai] himself that he is god. 5 Do you not remember that while still being with you I was telling you these things? 6 And you know the thing restraining[aj] now, so that he might be revealed in his own time.
For Lawlessness Is Being Restrained Right Now, But The Lawless One Will Come Later
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at-work[ak], only there is the one restraining right-now until he comes[al] out of the midst[am]. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of His mouth and do-away-with[an] by the appearance of His coming[ao]— 9 whose coming is in accordance with the working of Satan, with all power and signs and wonders of [ap] falsehood, 10 and with every deception of [aq] unrighteousness for the ones perishing because they did not receive the love of the truth so that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason, God sends them a working of [ar] error[as] so that they will believe the falsehood[at], 12 in order that all the ones not having believed in the truth but having taken-pleasure[au] in unrighteousness may be condemned.
But God Chose You To Be The Firstfruits of Salvation. Stand Firm And Hold On To The Truth
13 But[av] we ought to be giving-thanks to God always for you, brothers having been loved by the Lord, because God chose you to be the firstfruit[aw] for salvation in[ax] the holiness of [ay] the Spirit and faith[az] in the truth— 14 to which also He called you through our good-news, for the obtaining[ba] of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, be standing-firm, and be holding-on-to the traditions which you were taught— whether by word [of mouth] or by our letter. 16 And may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, the One having loved us and having given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good work and word.
Pray That The Word May Spread Quickly And That We May Be Protected From Evil People
3 Finally, brothers, be praying for us that the word of the Lord may run[bb] and be glorified, just as also with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from out-of-place[bc] and evil people. For faith[bd] is not possessed by everyone. 3 But the Lord is faithful— Who will establish you, and protect you from the evil one[be]. 4 And we are confident in the Lord concerning you that the things which we are commanding, you also[bf] are doing and will do. 5 And may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of [bg] God and into the endurance of [bh] Christ.
Imitate Us, And Keep Away From Those Who Don’t
6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you be keeping-away[bi] from every brother walking disorderly[bj] and not according to the tradition which they received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought-to be imitating us. Because we were not disorderly among you, 8 nor did we eat bread as-a-gift[bk] from anyone, but were working with labor and hardship by night and by day so-as not to be a burden-on any of you— 9 not because we do not have the right, but in order that we might give ourselves as a pattern to you, so that you may be imitating us. 10 For even when we were with you, we commanded this to you— that “if anyone does not want to work, neither let him eat”. 11 For we are hearing of some among you walking disorderly, not working at all, but being-busybodies[bl]. 12 Now to such ones we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ that while working with quietness, they eat their own bread. 13 But you, brothers, do not grow-weary while doing-good. 14 And if anyone does not obey our word through this letter, be taking-note-of [bm] this one— to not be associating-with him, in order that he may be ashamed. 15 And do not be regarding him as an enemy, but be admonishing him as a brother. 16 And may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace continually[bn] in every way. The Lord be with you all.
17 The greeting of Paul by my own hand, which is a sign in every letter— I write in this manner. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing