[1] Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the
church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus
Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
[2] We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in
our prayers;
[3] Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love,
and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our
Father;
[4] Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
[5] For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power,
and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we
were among you for your sake.
[6] And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the
word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
[7] So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in
[8] For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in
[9] For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had
unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
[10] And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead,
even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
[1] For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in
unto you, that it was not in vain:
[2] But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully
entreated, as ye know, at
[3] For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in
guile:
[4] But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel,
even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
[5] For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a
cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
[6] Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when
we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
[7] But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her
children:
[8] So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have
imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because
ye were dear unto us.
[9] For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring
night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached
unto you the gospel of God.
[10] Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and
unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
[11] As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of
you, as a father doth his children,
[12] That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his
kingdom and glory.
[13] For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye
received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word
of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also
in you that believe.
[14] For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in
Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own
countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
[15] Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have
persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
[16] Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to
fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
[17] But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in
presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with
great desire.
[18] Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again;
but Satan hindered us.
[19] For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even
ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
[20] For ye are our glory and joy.
[1] Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we
thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
[2] And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our
fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you
concerning your faith:
[3] That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves
know that we are appointed thereunto.
[4] For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should
suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
[5] For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your
faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in
vain.
[6] But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good
tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us
always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
[7] Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our
affliction and distress by your faith:
[8] For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
[9] For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy
wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
[10] Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and
might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
[11] Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct
our way unto you.
[12] And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward
another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
[13] To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness
before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all
his saints.
[1] Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and
exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to
walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
[2] For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
[3] For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye
should abstain from fornication:
[4] That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in
sanctification and honour;
[5] Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know
not God:
[6] That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because
that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and
testified.
[7] For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
[8] He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath
also given unto us his holy Spirit.
[9] But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you:
for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
[10] And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all
Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
[11] And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to
work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
[12] That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye
may have lack of nothing.
[13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them
which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
[14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also
which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
[15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are
alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are
asleep.
[16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ
shall rise first:
[17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with
the Lord.
[18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
[1] But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye
have no need that I write unto you.
[2] For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as
a thief in the night.
[3] For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction
cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not
escape.
[4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake
you as a thief.
[5] Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we
are not of the night, nor of darkness.
[6] Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be
sober.
[7] For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are
drunken in the night.
[8] But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate
of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
[9] For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by
our Lord Jesus Christ,
[10] Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live
together with him.
[11] Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even
as also ye do.
[12] And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you,
and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
[13] And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And
be at peace among yourselves.
[14] Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the
feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
[15] See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow
that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
[16] Rejoice evermore.
[17] Pray without ceasing.
[18] In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus concerning you.
[19] Quench not the Spirit.
[20] Despise not prophesyings.
[21] Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
[22] Abstain from all appearance of evil.
[23] And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your
whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
[24] Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
[25] Brethren, pray for us.
[26] Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
[27] I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the
holy brethren.
[28] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.