1 Thessalonians 1-5

Darby Translation

1 Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus to the assembly of Thessalonians in God [the] Father and [the] Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace.

²We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you at our prayers,

³remembering unceasingly your work of faith, and labour of love, and enduring constancy of hope, of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father;

⁴knowing, brethren beloved by God, your election.

⁵For our glad tidings were not with you in word only, but also in power, and in [the] Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; even as ye know what we were among you for your sakes:

⁶and *ye* became our imitators, and of the Lord, having accepted the word in much tribulation with joy of [the] Holy Spirit,

⁷so that ye became models to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia:

⁸for the word of the Lord sounded out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith which [is] towards God has gone abroad, so that we have no need to say anything;

⁹for they themselves relate concerning us what entering in we had to you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God,

¹⁰and to await his Son from the heavens, whom he raised from among the dead, Jesus, our deliverer from the coming wrath.

2 For ye know yourselves, brethren, our entering in which [we had] to you, that it has not been in vain;

²but, having suffered before and been insulted, even as ye know, in Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the glad tidings of God with much earnest striving.

³For our exhortation [was] not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile;

⁴but even as we have been approved of God to have the glad tidings entrusted to us, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who proves our hearts.

⁵For we have not at any time been [among you] with flattering discourse, even as ye know, nor with a pretext for covetousness, God [is] witness;

⁶nor seeking glory from men, neither from you nor from others, when we might have been a charge as Christ's apostles;

⁷but have been gentle in the midst of you, as a nurse would cherish her own children.

⁸Thus, yearning over you, we had found our delight in having imparted to you not only the glad tidings of God, but our own lives also, because ye had become beloved of us.

⁹For ye remember, brethren, our labour and toil: working night and day, not to be chargeable to any one of you, we have preached to you the glad tidings of God.

¹⁰*Ye* [are] witnesses, and God, how piously and righteously and blamelessly we have conducted ourselves with you that believe:

¹¹as ye know how, as a father his own children, we used to exhort each one of you, and comfort and testify,

¹²that ye should walk worthy of God, who calls you to his own kingdom and glory.

¹³And for this cause we also give thanks to God unceasingly that, having received [the] word of [the] report of God by us, ye accepted, not men's word, but, even as it is truly, God's word, which also works in you who believe.

¹⁴For *ye*, brethren, have become imitators of the assemblies of God which are in Judaea in Christ Jesus; for *ye* also have suffered the same things of your own countrymen as also *they* of the Jews,

¹⁵who have both slain the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and have driven us out by persecution, and do not please God, and [are] against all men,

¹⁶forbidding us to speak to the nations that they may be saved, that they may fill up their sins always: but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.

¹⁷But we, brethren, having been bereaved of you and separated for a little moment in person, not in heart, have used more abundant diligence to see your face with much desire;

¹⁸wherefore we have desired to come to you, even I Paul, both once and twice, and Satan has hindered us.

¹⁹For what [is] our hope, or joy, or crown of boasting? [are] not *ye* also before our Lord Jesus at his coming?

²⁰for ye are our glory and joy.

3 Wherefore, being no longer able to refrain ourselves, we thought good to be left alone in Athens,

²and sent Timotheus, our brother and fellow-workman under God in the glad tidings of Christ, to confirm you and encourage [you] concerning your faith,

³that no one might be moved by these afflictions. (For yourselves know that we are set for this;

⁴for also, when we were with you, we told you beforehand we are about to be in tribulation, even as also it came to pass, and ye know.)

⁵For this reason *I* also, no longer able to refrain myself, sent to know your faith, lest perhaps the tempter had tempted you and our labour should be come to nothing.

⁶But Timotheus having just come to us from you, and brought to us the glad tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have always good remembrance of us, desiring much to see us, even as we also you;

⁷for this reason we have been comforted in you, brethren, in all our distress and tribulation, through your faith,

⁸because now we live if *ye* stand firm in [the] Lord.

⁹For what thanksgiving can we render to God for you, for all the joy wherewith we rejoice on account of you before our God,

¹⁰night and day beseeching exceedingly to the end that we may see your face, and perfect what is lacking in your faith?

¹¹But our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.

¹²But you, may the Lord make to exceed and abound in love toward one another, and toward all, even as we also towards you,

¹³in order to the confirming of your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

4 For the rest, then, brethren, we beg you and exhort you in [the] Lord Jesus, even as ye have received from us how ye ought to walk and please God, even as ye also do walk, that ye would abound still more.

²For ye know what charges we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

³For this is [the] will of God, [even] your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication;

⁴that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honour,

⁵(not in passionate desire, even as the nations who know not God,)

⁶not overstepping the rights of and wronging his brother in the matter, because the Lord [is] the avenger of all these things, even as we also told you before, and have fully testified.

⁷For God has not called us to uncleanness, but in sanctification.

⁸He therefore that [in this] disregards [his brother], disregards, not man, but God, who has given also his Holy Spirit to you.

⁹Now concerning brotherly love ye have no need that we should write to you, for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

¹⁰For also ye do this towards all the brethren in the whole of Macedonia; but we exhort you, brethren, to abound still more,

¹¹and to seek earnestly to be quiet and mind your own affairs, and work with your [own] hands, even as we charged you,

¹²that ye may walk reputably towards those without, and may have need of no one.

¹³But we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them that are fallen asleep, to the end that ye be not grieved even as also the rest who have no hope.

¹⁴For if we believe that Jesus has died and has risen again, so also God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.

¹⁵(For this we say to you in [the] word of [the] Lord, that *we*, the living, who remain to the coming of the Lord, are in no way to anticipate those who have fallen asleep;

¹⁶for the Lord himself, with an assembling shout, with archangel's voice and with trump of God, shall descend from heaven; and the dead in Christ shall rise first;

¹⁷then *we*, the living who remain, shall be caught up together with them in [the] clouds, to meet the Lord in [the] air; and thus we shall be always with [the] Lord.

¹⁸So encourage one another with these words.)

5 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that ye should be written to,

²for ye know perfectly well yourselves, that the day of [the] Lord so comes as a thief by night.

³When they may say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon her that is with child; and they shall in no wise escape.

⁴But *ye*, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you as a thief:

⁵for all *ye* are sons of light and sons of day; we are not of night nor of darkness.

⁶So then do not let us sleep as the rest do, but let us watch and be sober;

⁷for they that sleep sleep by night, and they that drink drink by night;

⁸but *we* being of [the] day, let us be sober, putting on [the] breastplate of faith and love, and as helmet [the] hope of salvation;

⁹because God has not set us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

¹⁰who has died for us, that whether we may be watching or sleep, we may live together with him.

¹¹Wherefore encourage one another, and build up each one the other, even as also ye do.

¹²But we beg you, brethren, to know those who labour among you, and take the lead among you in [the] Lord, and admonish you,

¹³and to regard them exceedingly in love on account of their work. Be in peace among yourselves.

¹⁴But we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, comfort the faint-hearted, sustain the weak, be patient towards all.

¹⁵See that no one render to any evil for evil, but pursue always what is good towards one another and towards all;

¹⁶rejoice always;

¹⁷pray unceasingly;

¹⁸in everything give thanks, for this is [the] will of God in Christ Jesus towards you;

¹⁹quench not the Spirit;

²⁰do not lightly esteem prophecies;

²¹but prove all things, hold fast the right;

²²hold aloof from every form of wickedness.

²³Now the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly: and your whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

²⁴He [is] faithful who calls you, who will also perform [it].

²⁵Brethren, pray for us.

²⁶Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.

²⁷I adjure you by the Lord that the letter be read to all the [holy] brethren.

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

1 Thessalonians 1-5

New International Version

1 Paul, Silas^[a]^(A) and Timothy,^(B)

To the church of the Thessalonians^(C) in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace to you.^(D)

Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ Faith

²We always thank God for all of you^(E) and continually mention you in our prayers.^(F) ³We remember before our God and Father^(G) your work produced by faith,^(H) your labor prompted by love,^(I) and your endurance inspired by hope^(J) in our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴For we know, brothers and sisters^[b] loved by God,^(K) that he has chosen you, ⁵because our gospel^(L) came to you not simply with words but also with power,^(M) with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know^(N) how we lived among you for your sake. ⁶You became imitators of us^(O) and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering^(P) with the joy^(Q) given by the Holy Spirit.^(R) ⁷And so you became a model^(S) to all the believers in Macedonia^(T) and Achaia.^(U) ⁸The Lord’s message^(V) rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.^(W) Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, ⁹for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned^(X) to God from idols^(Y) to serve the living and true God,^(Z) ¹⁰and to wait for his Son from heaven,^(AA) whom he raised from the dead^(AB)—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.^(AC)

Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

2 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you^(AD) was not without results.^(AE) ²We had previously suffered^(AF) and been treated outrageously in Philippi,^(AG) as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.^(AH) ³For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives,^(AI) nor are we trying to trick you.^(AJ) ⁴On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.^(AK) We are not trying to please people^(AL) but God, who tests our hearts.^(AM) ⁵You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed^(AN)—God is our witness.^(AO) ⁶We were not looking for praise from people,^(AP) not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles^(AQ) of Christ we could have asserted our authority.^(AR) ⁷Instead, we were like young children^[c] among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,^(AS) ⁸so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God^(AT) but our lives as well.^(AU) ⁹Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked^(AV) night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone^(AW) while we preached the gospel of God to you. ¹⁰You are witnesses,^(AX) and so is God,^(AY) of how holy,^(AZ) righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. ¹¹For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,^(BA) ¹²encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy^(BB) of God, who calls^(BC) you into his kingdom and glory.

¹³And we also thank God continually^(BD) because, when you received the word of God,^(BE) which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. ¹⁴For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators^(BF) of God’s churches in Judea,^(BG) which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people^(BH) the same things those churches suffered from the Jews ¹⁵who killed the Lord Jesus^(BI) and the prophets^(BJ) and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone ¹⁶in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles^(BK) so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit.^(BL) The wrath of God has come upon them at last.^[d]

Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians

¹⁷But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought),^(BM) out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.^(BN) ¹⁸For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan^(BO) blocked our way.^(BP) ¹⁹For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown^(BQ) in which we will glory^(BR) in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?^(BS) Is it not you? ²⁰Indeed, you are our glory^(BT) and joy.

3 So when we could stand it no longer,^(BU) we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.^(BV) ²We sent Timothy,^(BW) who is our brother and co-worker^(BX) in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ,^(BY) to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, ³so that no one would be unsettled by these trials.^(BZ) For you know quite well that we are destined for them.^(CA) ⁴In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.^(CB) ⁵For this reason, when I could stand it no longer,^(CC) I sent to find out about your faith.^(CD) I was afraid that in some way the tempter^(CE) had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.^(CF)

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

⁶But Timothy^(CG) has just now come to us from you^(CH) and has brought good news about your faith and love.^(CI) He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.^(CJ) ⁷Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. ⁸For now we really live, since you are standing firm^(CK) in the Lord. ⁹How can we thank God enough for you^(CL) in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?^(CM) ¹⁰Night and day we pray^(CN) most earnestly that we may see you again^(CO) and supply what is lacking in your faith.

¹¹Now may our God and Father^(CP) himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. ¹²May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other^(CQ) and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. ¹³May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless^(CR) and holy in the presence of our God and Father^(CS) when our Lord Jesus comes^(CT) with all his holy ones.^(CU)

Living to Please God

4 As for other matters, brothers and sisters,^(CV) we instructed you how to live^(CW) in order to please God,^(CX) as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. ²For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

³It is God’s will^(CY) that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;^(CZ) ⁴that each of you should learn to control your own body^[e]^(DA) in a way that is holy and honorable, ⁵not in passionate lust^(DB) like the pagans,^(DC) who do not know God;^(DD) ⁶and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.^[f]^(DE) The Lord will punish^(DF) all those who commit such sins,^(DG) as we told you and warned you before. ⁷For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.^(DH) ⁸Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.^(DI)

⁹Now about your love for one another^(DJ) we do not need to write to you,^(DK) for you yourselves have been taught by God^(DL) to love each other.^(DM) ¹⁰And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia.^(DN) Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,^(DO) ¹¹and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands,^(DP) just as we told you, ¹²so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders^(DQ) and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Believers Who Have Died

¹³Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed^(DR) about those who sleep in death,^(DS) so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.^(DT) ¹⁴For we believe that Jesus died and rose again,^(DU) and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.^(DV) ¹⁵According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,^(DW) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.^(DX) ¹⁶For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,^(DY) with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel^(DZ) and with the trumpet call of God,^(EA) and the dead in Christ will rise first.^(EB) ¹⁷After that, we who are still alive and are left^(EC) will be caught up together with them in the clouds^(ED) to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord^(EE) forever. ¹⁸Therefore encourage one another^(EF) with these words.

The Day of the Lord

5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates^(EG) we do not need to write to you,^(EH) ²for you know very well that the day of the Lord^(EI) will come like a thief in the night.^(EJ) ³While people are saying, “Peace and safety,”^(EK) destruction will come on them suddenly,^(EL) as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.^(EM)

⁴But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness^(EN) so that this day should surprise you like a thief.^(EO) ⁵You are all children of the light^(EP) and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep,^(EQ) but let us be awake^(ER) and sober.^(ES) ⁷For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.^(ET) ⁸But since we belong to the day,^(EU) let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate,^(EV) and the hope of salvation^(EW) as a helmet.^(EX) ⁹For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath^(EY) but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.^(EZ) ¹⁰He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.^(FA) ¹¹Therefore encourage one another^(FB) and build each other up,^(FC) just as in fact you are doing.

Final Instructions

¹²Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard^(FD) among you, who care for you in the Lord^(FE) and who admonish you. ¹³Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.^(FF) ¹⁴And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle^(FG) and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak,^(FH) be patient with everyone. ¹⁵Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong,^(FI) but always strive to do what is good for each other^(FJ) and for everyone else.

¹⁶Rejoice always,^(FK) ¹⁷pray continually,^(FL) ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances;^(FM) for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

¹⁹Do not quench the Spirit.^(FN) ²⁰Do not treat prophecies^(FO) with contempt ²¹but test them all;^(FP) hold on to what is good,^(FQ) ²²reject every kind of evil.

²³May God himself, the God of peace,^(FR) sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul^(FS) and body be kept blameless^(FT) at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.^(FU) ²⁴The one who calls^(FV) you is faithful,^(FW) and he will do it.^(FX)

²⁵Brothers and sisters, pray for us.^(FY) ²⁶Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss.^(FZ) ²⁷I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.^(GA)

²⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.^(GB)

Footnotes

1 Thessalonians 1:1 Greek Silvanus, a variant of Silas
1 Thessalonians 1:4 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 2:1, 9, 14, 17; 3:7; 4:1, 10, 13; 5:1, 4, 12, 14, 25, 27.
1 Thessalonians 2:7 Some manuscripts were gentle
1 Thessalonians 2:16 Or them fully
1 Thessalonians 4:4 Or learn to live with your own wife; or learn to acquire a wife
1 Thessalonians 4:6 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family.

Darby Translation (DARBY)

Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)

New International Version (NIV)

1 Thessalonians 1-5

Darby Translation

1 Thessalonians 1-5

New International Version

Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ Faith

Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

Living to Please God

Believers Who Have Died

The Day of the Lord

Final Instructions

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

1 Thessalonians 1-5 Darby Translation

1 Thessalonians 1-5 New International Version

Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ Faith

Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

Living to Please God

Believers Who Have Died

The Day of the Lord

Final Instructions

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

1 Thessalonians 1-5

Darby Translation

1 Thessalonians 1-5

New International Version