Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

1 From Sha’ul and Silvanus (Sila) and Timotiyos. To the kehillah of the inhabitants of the city of Thessalonika, the kehillah in Hashem, in Elohim HaAv and in Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu Yehoshua. Chen v’Chesed Hashem and Shalom Hashem to you.

² Hodinu l’Hashem (We give thanks to Hashem) always for all of you, with zikaron (remembrance) during our davening, without ceasing

³ In our tefillos recalling before our G-d and Avinu your work of emunah, your labor of ahavah (agape), and your perseverance of tikvah in Moshiach Adoneinu Yeshoshua,

⁴ Knowing, Achim b’Moshiach ahuvei Hashem (Brothers in Moshiach beloved of G-d), your bechirah (election).

⁵ For our Besuras HaGeulah did not come to you in mere locution but indeed in gevurah (miraculous power) and in the Ruach HaKodesh and in full bitachon (confidence), just as you have da’as what sort of men we were among you for your sake.

⁶ And you became imitators of us and of Adoneinu, having received the Dvar Hashem (the Word of the L-rd) in much redifah (persecution) with the simcha of the Ruach HaKodesh,

⁷ With the result that you became a mofet (portent), even a role model for all the ma’aminim (believers) in the territory of Macedonia [T.N. a Roman province in northern Greece] and in Achaia [T.N. a Roman province of southern Greece].

⁸ For from you the Dvar Hashem has resounded not only in Macedonia and in Achaia, but also in every place to which your emunah in Hashem has gone forth, with the result that we have no need to say anything.

⁹ For they themselves (the ma’aminim b’Moshiach in Macedonia and Achaia) are reporting about us, what sort of initial reception we had with you, and how you made teshuva, turning to Hashem from elilim (idols), from avodah zarah (idol worship), turning to worship the Elohim Chayyim and Elohei Emes (the Living G-d and the True G-d),

¹⁰ And to expect [Moshiach] Ben Elohim from Shomayim whom Hashem made to stand up in the Techiyas HaMoshiach from the Mesim Yehoshua Moshieynu (our Deliverer) from the Charon Af HaBah (the wrath to come).

2 But you yourselves know, Chaverim b’Moshiach, that our initial reception with you was not empty of result.

² On the contrary, having suffered before and having been shamefully persecuted (as you know) in Philippi, we had the chozek b’Eloheinu (strength in our G-d) to speak to you the Besuras HaGeulah of Hashem in the face of tzorrim rabbim (great and oppressive enemy opposition).

³ For our appeal, our eidus (witness of testimony), does not spring from toyus (error) or meshuga delusion or from tum’a (uncleanness) or from remiyah (guile, deceit).

⁴ On the contrary, in this way we speak: as persons examined and approved by G-d to be entrusted with the Besuras HaGeulah of Hashem, as striving to please not men but Hashem who tests, who examines, our levavot.

⁵ Nor did we ever come with divrei chanuppah (words of flattery), as you know, nor with pretext for chamdanut (greed)‖Der Oybershter is mine eidus! (G-d is my witness!)

⁶ Nor seeking kavod from men, neither from you nor from others.

⁷ Even though we had the samchut [authority] to be able to throw our weight around as Shlichim (Emissaries) of Moshiach, yet we became anav (humble) and eidel (gentle) among you, as a nursing imma (mother) might take care of her own yeladim.

⁸ Thus having a tshuka (yearning) for you, it was our good pleasure to share with you not only the Besuras HaGeulah of Hashem, but also our very lives, because you became beloved chaverim to us.

⁹ For remember, Achim b’Moshiach, our labor and toil yomam valailah working for the purpose of not weighing down any one of you while we maggidim [for Moshiach] made the Hachrazah (Proclamation, Kerygma) to you of the Besuras HaGeulah of Hashem.

¹⁰ You were edim (witnesses) and so is Hashem, with what kedushah and tzedek and tamim manner of shomer masoret we acted toward you ma’aminim b’Moshiach,

¹¹ For you know how we treated you, as an abba treats his own yeladim,

¹² Exhorting you with divrei chizzuk and comforting you, addressing you with solemn edut (testimony) that you let your derech (way of life), your hitnahagut (conduct), be to fier zich (comport oneself) in a manner worthy of Hashem, who summons you to His own Malchut and Kavod.

¹³ And for this reason also we constantly offer hodayah to Hashem that when you received (as “Ani Maamin” authoritative teaching) the Dvar Hashem, the Word of Hachrazah (Proclamation, Kerygma) from us, you received it not as the dvar HaBnei Adam but, as it actually is, the Dvar Hashem, which also is at work in you who have emunah.

¹⁴ For you became imitators, Chaverim, of the kehillot Hashem in Moshiach Yehoshua which are in Yehudah, because you also were similarly persecuted by your own landslait, just as also they were by the ones in Yehudah,

¹⁵ Even the ones who caused the histalkus of [Moshiach] Adoneinu Yehoshua and killed the Nevi’im and persecuted us [Shlichim] severely. Indeed, they are not pleasing Hashem and are hostile to kol Bnei Adam,

¹⁶ By hindering us from speaking to the Goyim in order that the Goyim might find Yeshu’at Eloheinu. Thus they always make complete their peysha’im. So the charon af, the burning wrath, the furious retribution of Hashem has overtaken them at last.

¹⁷ But you, Achim b’Moshiach, while we were separated from you for a short time (panim el panim, not b’lev), we made all the more effort in much desire to see your penemer (faces).

¹⁸ For we wanted to come to you. Indeed I, [Rav] Sha’ul, did again and again; but Hasatan hindered us.

¹⁹ For who is our tikvah or simcha or crown to glory in before Adoneinu Yehoshua at His Parousia, at the Bias Moshiach‖is it not you?

²⁰ For you are our kavod and simcha.

3 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we resolved to be left behind alone in Athens.

² Also we sent Timotiyos, acheinu and fellow po’el of Hashem in the Besuras HaGeulah of Moshiach. We sent Timotiyos in order to give you chozek (strength) and to speak divrei chizzuk to you on behalf of our [orthodox Jewish] Emunah [of the true Dat haYehudit].

³ This was for the tachlis that no one be unsettled because of ES TZARAH. For you yourselves have da’as that we have a divine calendar date with ES TZARAH.

⁴ For, hinei, when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were going to suffer redifah, just as also it came to pass, of which you have da’as.

⁵ For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent in order to know your emunah, lest somehow [Hasatan Samma’el] the Tempter [HaMenasseh] had ensnared you by nissayon and our labor should be for nothing.

⁶ But, just now, when Timotiyos has come to us from you and has brought us good news of your [correct orthodox Jewish] Emunah and your ahavah and that you always have zochrim tovim (good memories) of us, yearning to see us, just as we yearn to see you.

⁷ For this reason, Achim b’Moshiach, in all our tzoros and redifah, we received chozek because of you through your emunah.

⁸ For now we have Chayyim if you have a firm standing and remain ne’emanot (faithful) in Hashem.

⁹ For what hodayah are we able to return to Hashem concerning you because of all the simcha with which we rejoice on account of you before Eloheinu,

¹⁰ As, yomam valailah, we are davening with all retzinut (earnestness) in order to see your penemer (faces) and to bring to shleimut what is lacking in your [orthodox Jewish] emunah?

¹¹ And may Eloheinu and Avinu, may Hashem Himself and Adoneinu Yehoshua direct our way to you.

¹² And may Hashem cause you to grow and to overflow and abound in ahavah (agape) for one another and for kol Bnei Adam, just as also we have ahavah (agape) for you,

¹³ With this tachlis (purpose): to establish your levavot faultless in kedushah (holiness) in the presence of Hashem and Avinu at the Bi’as Moshiach (Coming of Moshiach) of Adoneinu Yehoshua with all His Kadoshim. Omein.