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.
In every thing
give thanks:
for this
is
the will
of God
in Christ Jesus
concerning you.
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.
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.