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