1:1 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.

1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of

you in our prayers;

1:3 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;

1:4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

1:5 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.

1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having

received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy

Ghost:

1:7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia

and Achaia.

1:8 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.

1:9 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;

1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from

the dead, [even] Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to

come.

2:1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you,

that it was not in vain:

2:2 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.

2:3 For our exhortation [was] not of deceit, nor of uncleanness,

nor in guile:

2:4 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.

2:5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye

know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God [is] witness:

2:6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor [yet] of

others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of

Christ.

2:7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her

children:

2:8 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.

2:9 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.

2:10 Ye [are] witnesses, and God [also], how holily and justly

and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

2:11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every

one of you, as a father [doth] his children,

2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto

his kingdom and glory.

2:13 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.

2:14 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:

2:15 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:

2:16 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.

2:17 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.

2:18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once

and again; but Satan hindered us.

2:19 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?

2:20 For ye are our glory and joy.

3:1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it

good to be left at Athens alone;

3:2 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:

3:3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for

yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

3:4 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.

3:5 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.

3:6 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:

3:7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our

affliction and distress by your faith:

3:8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

3:9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all

the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;

3:10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your

face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

3:11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ,

direct our way unto you.

3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one

toward another, and toward all [men], even as we [do] toward

you:

3:13 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.

4:1 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.

4:2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

4:3 For this is the will of God, [even] your sanctification,

that ye should abstain from fornication:

4:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel

in sanctification and honour;

4:5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which

know not God:

4:6 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.

4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto

holiness.

4:8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who

hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto

you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

4:10 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;

4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business,

and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

4:12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and

[that] ye may have lack of nothing.

4:13 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.

4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so

them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

4:15 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.

4:16 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:

4:17 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.

4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need

that I write unto you.

5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so

cometh as a thief in the night.

5:3 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.

5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should

overtake you as a thief.

5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the

day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch

and be sober.

5:7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be

drunken are drunken in the night.

5:8 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.

5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain

salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should

live together with him.

5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one

another, even as also ye do.

5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour

among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

5:13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's

sake. [And] be at peace among yourselves.

5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly,

comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward

all [men].

5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any [man]; but ever

follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all

[men].

5:16 Rejoice evermore.

5:17 Pray without ceasing.

5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in

Christ Jesus concerning you.

5:19 Quench not the Spirit.

5:20 Despise not prophesyings.

5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

5:23 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.

5:24 Faithful [is] he that calleth you, who also will do [it].

5:25 Brethren, pray for us.

5:26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.

5:27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all

the holy brethren.

5:28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you. Amen.

<[The first [epistle] to the Thessalonians was written from

Athens.]>

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