267000000THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS.
267001000CHAPTER 1 The gospel comes both in word and in power.
267001001Paul, 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.
267001002We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
267001003Remembering 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;
267001004Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
267001005For 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.
267001006And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
267001007So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
267001008For 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.
267001009For 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;
267001010And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
267002000CHAPTER 2 True ministers preach in a godly manner--Converts are the glory and joy of missionaries.
267002001For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
267002002But 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.
267002003For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
267002004But 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.
267002005For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
267002006Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
267002007But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
267002008So 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.
267002009For 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.
267002010Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
267002011As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
267002012That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
267002013For 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.
267002014For 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:
267002015Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
267002016Forbidding 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.
267002017But 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.
267002018Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
267002019For 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?
267002020For ye are our glory and joy.
267003000CHAPTER 3 Saints exhorted to perfect that which is lacking in their faith.
267003001Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
267003002And 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:
267003003That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
267003004For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
267003005For 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.
267003006But 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:
267003007Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
267003008For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
267003009For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
267003010Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
267003011Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.
267003012And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
267003013To 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.
267004000CHAPTER 4 Saints exhorted to be holy, sanctify themselves, and love one another--The Lord shall come and the dead shall rise.
267004001Furthermore 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.
267004002For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
267004003For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
267004004That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
267004005Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
267004006That 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.
267004007For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
267004008He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
267004009But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
267004010And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
267004011And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
267004012That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
267004013But 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.
267004014For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
267004015For 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.
267004016For 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:
267004017Then 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.
267004018Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
267005000CHAPTER 5 Saints shall know the season of the Second Coming of Christ--Live as becometh saints--Rejoice evermore--Despise not prophesyings.
267005001But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
267005002For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
267005003For 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.
267005004But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
267005005Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
267005006Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
267005007For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
267005008But 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.
267005009For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
267005010Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
267005011Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
267005012And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
267005013And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
267005014Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
267005015See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
267005016Rejoice evermore.
267005017Pray without ceasing.
267005018In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
267005019Quench not the Spirit.
267005020Despise not prophesyings.
267005021Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
267005022Abstain from all appearance of evil.
267005023And 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.
267005024Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
267005025Brethren, pray for us.
267005026Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
267005027I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
267005028The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.