[1 Thessalonians 1]
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 show 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.
[1 Thessalonians 2]
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 cloak 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.
[1 Thessalonians 3]
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.
[1 Thessalonians 4]
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.
[1 Thessalonians 5]
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.