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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[a]— that you be abstaining[b] from sexual-immorality; 4 that each of you know-how to acquire[c] control of his own vessel[d] in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of [e] desire[f] as indeed the Gentiles not knowing God; 6 that[g] no one overstep[h] and exploit[i] his brother[j] in the matter[k]. 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[l] impurity, but in[m] holiness. 8 So-therefore[n] 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[o] to be quiet[p], and to be doing[q] 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[r].
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[s], 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[t] God will bring with Him the ones having fallen asleep through[u] Jesus. 15 For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we— the ones living, the ones remaining[v] until the coming of the Lord— will in-no-way precede the ones having fallen asleep. 16 Because[w] the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shouted-command[x], with a voice of an archangel[y], 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[z] together[aa] with them in the clouds[ab] to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 So then, be encouraging[ac] 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[ad] destruction suddenly-comes-upon[ae] 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 [af] 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[ag] 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[ah] us for wrath, but for the obtaining[ai] of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ— 10 the One having died for us in order that whether we are keeping-watch or sleeping[aj], 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[ak] the ones laboring among you and leading you in the Lord and admonishing you, 13 and to be esteeming them super-abundantly[al] 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[am] the fainthearted ones, be holding-on-to[an] 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[ao] the Spirit, 20 do not be treating prophecies with contempt, 21 but be testing all things. Be holding-on-to the good[ap], 22 be abstaining from every form[aq] of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify[ar] you wholly[as]. And may your whole[at] spirit and soul and body be preserved[au] 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[av] you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
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