Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks
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.
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