Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

Sanctification and Love

4 ^(A)Finally then, ^(B)brothers, we ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us as to how you ought to ^[a](C)walk and ^(D)please God (just as you actually do ^[b]walk), that you ^(E)excel still more. ² For you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. ³ For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you ^(F)abstain from ^[c]sexual immorality; ⁴ that ^(G)each of you know how to ^[d]possess his own ^[e](H)vessel in sanctification and ^(I)honor, ⁵ not in ^[f](J)lustful passion, like the Gentiles who ^(K)do not know God; ⁶ and that no man transgress and ^(L)defraud his brother ^(M)in the matter because ^(N)the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also ^(O)told you before and solemnly warned you. ⁷ For ^(P)God did not call us to ^(Q)impurity, but ^[g]in sanctification. ⁸ Consequently, he who sets this aside is not setting aside man but the God who ^(R)gives His Holy Spirit to you.

⁹ Now concerning ^(S)love of the brothers, you ^(T)have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are ^(U)taught by God to love one another, ¹⁰ for indeed ^(V)you do practice it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to ^(W)excel still more, ¹¹ and to make it your ambition ^(X)to lead a quiet life and ^(Y)attend to your own business and ^(Z)work with your hands, just as we commanded you, ¹² so that you will ^(AA)walk properly toward ^(AB)outsiders and ^[h](AC)not be in any need.

The Dead in Christ Will Rise

¹³ But ^(AD)we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who ^(AE)are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do ^(AF)the rest who have ^(AG)no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, ^(AH)even so God will bring with Him ^(AI)those who have fallen asleep ^[i]in Jesus. ¹⁵ For this we say to you ^(AJ)by the word of the Lord, that ^(AK)we who are alive ^[j]and remain until ^(AL)the coming of the Lord, will not precede ^(AM)those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord ^(AN)Himself ^(AO)will descend from heaven with a ^[k](AP)shout, with the voice of ^(AQ)the archangel and with the ^(AR)trumpet of God, and ^(AS)the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then ^(AT)we who are alive ^[l]and remain will be ^(AU)caught up together with them ^(AV)in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always ^(AW)be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.

The Day of the Lord

5 Now concerning the ^(AX)times and the seasons, brothers, you ^(AY)have no need of anything to be written to you. ² For you yourselves know full well that ^(AZ)the day of the Lord ^[m]will come ^(BA)just like a thief in the night. ³ While they are saying, “^(BB)Peace and safety!” then ^[n](BC)destruction ^[o]will come upon them suddenly like ^(BD)labor pains upon a woman who is pregnant, and they will never escape. ⁴ But you, brothers, are not in ^(BE)darkness, that the day would overtake you ^[p](BF)like a thief, ⁵ for you are all ^(BG)sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of ^(BH)darkness; ⁶ so then let us not ^(BI)sleep as ^[q](BJ)others do, but let us be awake and ^[r](BK)sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get ^(BL)drunk at night. ⁸ But since ^(BM)we are of the day, let us ^(BN)be ^[s]sober, having put on the ^(BO)breastplate of ^(BP)faith and love, and as a ^(BQ)helmet, the ^(BR)hope of salvation. ⁹ For God has not appointed us for ^(BS)wrath, but for ^(BT)obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ^10 (BU)who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. ¹¹ Therefore, ^[t]comfort one another and ^(BV)build up one another, just as you also are doing.

Admonishment and Instruction

¹² But we ask of you, brothers, that you ^(BW)know those ^(BX)who labor among you, and ^(BY)lead you in the Lord and admonish you, ¹³ and that you regard them very highly in love because of their work. ^(BZ)Live in peace with one another. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers, admonish ^(CA)the ^[u]unruly, encourage ^(CB)the fainthearted, help ^(CC)the weak, be ^(CD)patient with everyone. ¹⁵ See that ^(CE)no one repays another with evil for evil, but always ^(CF)seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. ^16 (CG)Rejoice always; ^17 (CH)pray without ceasing; ¹⁸ in everything ^(CI)give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ^19 (CJ)Do not quench the Spirit; ²⁰ do not despise ^(CK)prophecies, ²¹ but ^(CL)examine all things; ^(CM)hold fast to that which is good; ²² abstain from every ^[v]form of evil.

²³ Now ^(CN)may the God of peace ^(CO)Himself sanctify you entirely, and may your ^(CP)spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, ^(CQ)without blame at ^(CR)the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ^24 (CS)Faithful is He who ^(CT)calls you, who also will do it.

²⁵ Brothers, ^(CU)pray for us^[w].

^26 (CV)Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. ²⁷ I implore you by the Lord to ^(CW)have this letter read to all the ^(CX)brothers.

^28 (CY)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.