1 |
Paul, and Silouanos,
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. 2We give thanks to God
always for
you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 3Remembering
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; 4Knowing,
brethren beloved, your election of God. 5For our gospel
came not
unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and
in much
assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your
sake. 6And
ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in
much
affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit: 7So that ye were
ensamples
to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 8For from you
sounded
out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in
every
place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to
speak any
thing. 9For 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; 10And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised
from the
dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
2 |
For
yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in
vain: 2But
even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated,
as ye
know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel
of God
with much contention. 3For our exhortation was not
of deceit,
nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 4But 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. 5For neither at any time used
we
flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is
witness: 6Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet
of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of
Christ. 7But
we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: 8So
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. 9For 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. 10Ye are
witnesses, and
God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved
ourselves
among you that believe: 11As ye know how we exhorted and
comforted
and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 12That
ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and
glory.
13For
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. 14For 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: 15Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their
own
prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are
contrary to
all men: 16Forbidding 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.
17But
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. 18Wherefore we would have come unto you, even
I Paul,
once and again; but Satan hindered us. 19For 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? 20For ye are our glory
and joy.
3 |
Wherefore
when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at
Athens alone;
2And 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: 3That no man should be moved by
these
afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. 4For
verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer
tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. 5For
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. 6But
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: 7Therefore,
brethren, we
were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your
faith: 8For
now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. 9For what thanks
can we
render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your
sakes
before our God; 10Night and day praying exceedingly that we
might
see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? 11Now
God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way
unto you.
12And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one
toward
another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13To
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.
4 |
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. 2For ye know what commandments
we gave
you by the Lord Jesus. 3For this is the will of God, even
your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4That
every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in
sanctification and
honour; 5Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the
Gentiles
which know not God: 6That 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. 7For
God hath
not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8He
therefore
that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us
his
holy Spirit. 9But as touching brotherly love ye need not
that I
write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one
another. 10And
indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but
we
beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; 11And
that ye
study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your
own
hands, as we commanded you; 12That ye may walk honestly
toward them
that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
13But 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. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose
again, even so
them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For
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. 16For
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: 17Then
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.
18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
5 |
But of the
times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2For
yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief
in the
night. 3For 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. 4But ye, brethren, are not in darkness,
that that
day should overtake you as a thief. 5Ye are all the
children of
light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of
darkness. 6Therefore
let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7For
they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are
drunken in the
night. 8But 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. 9For
God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord
Jesus
Christ, 10Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep,
we should
live together with him. 11Wherefore comfort yourselves
together, and
edify one another, even as also ye do.
12And
we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour
among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13And
to
esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be
at peace
among yourselves. 14Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them
that are
unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward
all men.
15See that none render evil for evil unto any man;
but
ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
16Rejoice
evermore. 17Pray without ceasing. 18In every
thing give
thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19Quench
not the Spirit. 20Despise not prophesyings. 21Prove
all
things; hold fast that which is good. 22Abstain from all
appearance
of evil. 23And 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. 24Faithful is
he that
calleth you, who also will do it.
25Brethren,
pray for us.
26Greet
all the brethren with an holy kiss. 27I
charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy
brethren.
28The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. [Amin
AM.C->18].