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 cloak 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.