Giving Thanks for These Believers

1 ^(A)Paul, ^(B)Silvanus, and ^(C)Timothy,

To the ^(D)church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: ^(E)Grace to you and peace.

^2 (F)We always give thanks to God for all of you, ^(G)making mention of you in our prayers; ³ constantly keeping in mind your ^(H)work of faith and labor of ^(I)love and ^[a](J)perseverance of hope ^[b]in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of ^(K)our God and Father, ⁴ knowing, ^(L)brothers and sisters, beloved by God, ^(M)His choice of you; ⁵ for our ^(N)gospel did not come to you in word only, but also ^(O)in power and in the Holy Spirit and with ^(P)full conviction; just as you know ^(Q)what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sakes. ⁶ You also became ^(R)imitators of us and of the Lord, ^(S)having received ^(T)the word during great affliction with the ^(U)joy of the Holy Spirit, ⁷ so that you became an example to all the believers in ^(V)Macedonia and ^(W)Achaia. ⁸ For ^(X)the word of the Lord has ^(Y)sounded forth from you, not only in ^(Z)Macedonia and ^(AA)Achaia, but ^(AB)in every place the news of your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything. ⁹ For they themselves report about us ^[c]as to the kind of ^(AC)reception we had with you, and how you ^(AD)turned to God ^(AE)from ^[d]idols to serve ^[e](AF)a living and true God, ¹⁰ and to ^(AG)wait for His Son from ^[f]heaven, whom He ^(AH)raised from the dead, that is, Jesus who ^(AI)rescues us from ^(AJ)the wrath to come.

Paul’s Ministry

2 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our ^[a](A)reception among you ^(B)was not in vain, ² but after we had already suffered and been ^(C)treated abusively in ^(D)Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God ^(E)to speak to you the ^(F)gospel of God ^[b]amid much ^[c](G)opposition. ³ For our ^(H)exhortation does not come from ^(I)error or ^(J)impurity or ^[d]by way of ^(K)deceit; ^4 (L)but just as we have been approved by God to be ^(M)entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, ^(N)not intending to please people, but to please God, who ^[e](O)examines our hearts. ⁵ For we never came ^[f]with flattering speech, as you know, nor with ^(P)a pretext ^[g]for greed—^(Q)God is our witness— ⁶ nor did we ^(R)seek honor from people, either from you or from others, though ^[h]we could have ^[i]asserted our authority as ^(S)apostles of Christ. ⁷ But we ^[j]proved to be ^[k](T)gentle ^[l]among you. ^(U)As a nursing mother ^[m]tenderly cares for her own children, ⁸ in the same way we had a fond affection for you and were delighted to ^(V)share with you not only the ^(W)gospel of God, but also our own ^[n]lives, because you had become ^[o]very dear to us.

⁹ For you recall, brothers and sisters, our ^(X)labor and hardship: it was by ^(Y)working night and day so as not to be a ^(Z)burden to any of you, that we proclaimed to you the ^(AA)gospel of God. ¹⁰ You are witnesses, and so is ^(AB)God, of ^(AC)how devoutly and rightly and blamelessly we ^[p]behaved toward you ^[q]believers; ¹¹ just as you know how we were ^(AD)exhorting and encouraging and ^(AE)imploring each one of you as ^(AF)a father would his own children, ¹² so that you would ^(AG)walk in a manner worthy of the God who ^(AH)calls you into His own kingdom and ^(AI)glory.

¹³ For this reason we also constantly ^(AJ)thank God that when you received the ^(AK)word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it ^(AL)not as the word of mere men, but as what it really is, the word of God, ^(AM)which also is at work in you who believe. ¹⁴ For you, brothers and sisters, became ^(AN)imitators of ^(AO)the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are ^(AP)in Judea, for ^(AQ)you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, ^(AR)even as they did from the Jews, ^15 (AS)who both killed the Lord Jesus and ^(AT)the prophets, and ^[r]drove us out. ^[s]They are not pleasing to God, ^[t]but hostile to all people, ^16 (AU)hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles ^(AV)so that they may be saved; with the result that they always ^[u](AW)reach the limit of their sins. But ^(AX)wrath has come upon them ^[v]fully.

¹⁷ But we, brothers and sisters, having been orphaned from you by absence for a ^[w]short while—^(AY)in ^[x]person, not in ^[y]spirit—were all the more eager with great desire ^(AZ)to see your face. ^18 [z]For ^(BA)we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, ^[aa](BB)more than once—and ^(BC)Satan ^(BD)hindered us. ¹⁹ For who is our hope, or ^(BE)joy or crown of pride, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His ^[ab](BF)coming? Or is it not indeed you? ²⁰ For you are ^(BG)our glory and joy.

Encouragement of Timothy’s Visit

3 Therefore, ^(A)when we could no longer endure it, we thought it best to be left behind, alone at ^(B)Athens, ² and we sent ^(C)Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you for the benefit of your faith, ³ so that no one would be ^[a]disturbed by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that ^(D)we have been destined for this. ⁴ For even when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; ^[b](E)and so it happened, ^[c]as you know. ⁵ For this reason, ^(F)when I could no longer endure it, I also ^(G)sent to ^[d]find out about your faith, for fear that ^(H)the tempter might have tempted you, and ^(I)our labor would be for nothing.

⁶ But now that ^(J)Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of ^(K)your faith and love, and that you always ^(L)think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, ⁷ for this reason, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; ⁸ for now we really live, if you ^(M)stand firm in the Lord. ⁹ For ^(N)what thanks can we give to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice because of you before our God, ¹⁰ as we ^(O)keep praying most earnestly night and day that we may ^(P)see your faces, and may ^(Q)complete what is lacking in your faith?

^11 (R)Now may ^(S)our God and Father ^(T)Himself, and our Lord Jesus, ^(U)direct our way to you; ¹² and may the Lord cause you to increase and ^(V)overflow in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; ¹³ so that He may ^(W)establish your hearts ^(X)blameless in holiness before ^(Y)our God and Father at the ^[e](Z)coming of our Lord Jesus ^(AA)with all His ^[f]saints.

Sanctification and Love

4 ^(A)Finally then, ^(B)brothers and sisters, we request and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us as to how you ought to ^[a](C)walk and ^(D)please God (just as you actually do ^[b]walk), that you ^(E)excel even more. ² For you know what instructions we gave you ^[c]by the authority of the Lord Jesus. ³ For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you ^(F)abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴ that ^(G)each of you know how to ^[d]possess his own ^[e](H)vessel in sanctification and ^(I)honor, ⁵ not in ^[f](J)lustful passion, like the Gentiles who ^(K)do not know God; ⁶ and that no one violate the rights and ^(L)take advantage of his brother or sister ^(M)in the matter, because ^(N)the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also ^(O)told you previously and solemnly warned you. ⁷ For ^(P)God has not called us for ^[g](Q)impurity, but in sanctification. ⁸ Therefore, the one who rejects this is not rejecting man, but the God who ^(R)gives His Holy Spirit to you.

⁹ Now as to the ^(S)love of the brothers and sisters, you ^(T)have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are ^(U)taught by God to love one another; ¹⁰ for indeed ^(V)you practice it toward all the brothers and sisters who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to ^(W)excel even more, ¹¹ and to make it your ambition ^(X)to lead a quiet life and ^(Y)attend to your own business and ^(Z)work with your hands, just as we instructed you, ¹² so that you will ^[h](AA)behave properly toward ^(AB)outsiders and ^[i](AC)not be in any need.

Those Who Died in Christ

¹³ But ^(AD)we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who ^[j](AE)are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed ^(AF)the rest of mankind do, who have ^(AG)no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, ^(AH)so also God will bring with Him ^(AI)those who have fallen asleep ^[k]through Jesus. ¹⁵ For we say this to you ^(AJ)by the word of the Lord, that ^(AK)we who are alive ^[l]and remain until ^(AL)the coming of the Lord will not precede ^(AM)those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord ^(AN)Himself ^(AO)will descend from heaven with a ^[m](AP)shout, with the voice of ^(AQ)the archangel and with the ^(AR)trumpet of God, and ^(AS)the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then ^(AT)we who are alive, who remain, will be ^(AU)caught up together with them ^(AV)in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always ^(AW)be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore, ^[n]comfort one another with these words.

The Day of the Lord

5 Now as to the ^(A)periods and ^[a]times, brothers and sisters, you ^(B)have no need of anything to be written to you. ² For you yourselves know full well that ^(C)the day of the Lord is coming ^(D)just like a thief in the night. ³ While they are saying, “^(E)Peace and safety!” then ^(F)sudden destruction ^[b]will come upon them like ^(G)labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in ^(H)darkness, so that the day would overtake you ^[c](I)like a thief; ⁵ for you are all ^(J)sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of ^(K)darkness; ⁶ so then, let’s not ^(L)sleep as ^[d](M)others do, but let’s be alert and ^[e](N)sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk, ^(O)get drunk at night. ⁸ But since ^(P)we are of the day, let’s ^(Q)be ^[f]sober, having put on the ^(R)breastplate of ^(S)faith and love, and as a ^(T)helmet, the ^(U)hope of salvation. ⁹ For God has not destined us for ^(V)wrath, but for ^(W)obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ^10 (X)who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. ¹¹ Therefore, ^[g]encourage one another and ^(Y)build one another up, just as you also are doing.

Christian Conduct

¹² But we ask you, brothers and sisters, to ^(Z)recognize those ^(AA)who diligently labor among you and ^[h](AB)are in leadership over you in the Lord, and give you ^[i]instruction, ¹³ and that you regard them very highly in love because of their work. ^(AC)Live in peace with one another. ¹⁴ We urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish ^(AD)the ^[j]unruly, encourage ^(AE)the fainthearted, help ^(AF)the weak, be ^(AG)patient with everyone. ¹⁵ See that ^(AH)no one repays another with evil for evil, but always ^(AI)seek what is good for one another and for all people. ^16 (AJ)Rejoice always, ^17 (AK)pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything ^(AL)give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. ^19 (AM)Do not quench the Spirit, ²⁰ do not utterly reject ^[k](AN)prophecies, ²¹ but ^(AO)examine everything; ^(AP)hold firmly to that which is good, ²² abstain from every ^[l]form of evil.

²³ Now ^(AQ)may the God of peace ^(AR)Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your ^(AS)spirit and soul and body be kept complete, ^(AT)without blame at ^(AU)the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ^24 (AV)Faithful is He who ^(AW)calls you, and He also will do it.

²⁵ Brothers and sisters, ^(AX)pray for us^[m].

^26 (AY)Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. ²⁷ I put you under oath by the Lord to ^(AZ)have this letter read to all the ^(BA)brothers and sisters.

^28 (BB)May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Giving Thanks for Faith and Perseverance

1 ^(A)Paul, ^(B)Silvanus, and ^(C)Timothy,

To the ^(D)church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: ^2 (E)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

³ We ought always ^(F)to give thanks to God for you, ^(G)brothers and sisters, as is only fitting, because your faith is increasing abundantly, and the ^(H)love of each and every one of you toward one another grows ever greater. ⁴ As a result, we ourselves ^(I)speak proudly of you among ^(J)the churches of God for your ^[a]perseverance and faith ^[b](K)in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. ⁵ This is ^[c]a ^(L)plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be ^(M)considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you indeed are suffering. ^6 [d]For after all ^(N)it is only right ^[e]for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, ⁷ and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us, ^[f](O)when the Lord Jesus will be revealed ^(P)from heaven ^(Q)with ^[g]His mighty angels ^8 (R)in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who ^(S)do not know God, and to those who ^(T)do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. ⁹ These people will pay the penalty of ^(U)eternal destruction, ^(V)away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, ¹⁰ when He comes to be ^(W)glorified among His ^[h]saints on that ^(X)day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—because our ^(Y)testimony to you was believed. ¹¹ To this end also we ^(Z)pray for you always, that our God will ^(AA)consider you worthy of your ^(AB)calling, and fulfill every desire for ^(AC)goodness and the ^(AD)work of faith with power, ¹² so that the ^(AE)name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, in accordance with the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Man of Lawlessness

2 Now we ask you, ^(A)brothers and sisters, regarding the ^[a](B)coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our ^(C)gathering together to Him, ² that you not be quickly shaken from your ^[b]composure or be disturbed either by a ^(D)spirit, or a ^[c](E)message, or a ^(F)letter as if from us, to the effect that ^(G)the day of the Lord ^(H)has come. ^3 (I)No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the ^[d](J)apostasy comes first, and the ^(K)man of lawlessness is revealed, the ^(L)son of destruction, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself above ^[e](M)every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, ^(N)displaying himself as being God. ⁵ Do you not remember that ^(O)while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? ⁶ And you know ^(P)what restrains him now, so that he will be revealed in his time. ⁷ For ^(Q)the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only ^[f](R)He who now restrains will do so until ^[g]He is ^[h]removed. ⁸ Then that lawless one ^(S)will be revealed, whom the Lord will eliminate ^(T)with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the ^(U)appearance of His ^[i]coming; ⁹ that is, the one whose ^[j]coming is in accord with the activity of ^(V)Satan, with all power and false ^[k](W)signs and wonders, ¹⁰ and with ^[l]all the deception of wickedness for ^(X)those who perish, because they did not accept the love of ^(Y)the truth so as to be saved. ¹¹ For this reason ^(Z)God ^[m]will send upon them ^[n]a ^(AA)deluding influence so that they will believe ^[o]what is false, ¹² in order that they all may be ^[p]judged who ^(AB)did not believe the truth, but ^[q](AC)took pleasure in wickedness.

Stand Firm

^13 (AD)But we should always give thanks to God for you, ^(AE)brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because ^(AF)God has chosen you ^[r]from the beginning ^(AG)for salvation ^[s](AH)through sanctification ^[t]by the Spirit and faith in the truth. ¹⁴ It was for this He ^(AI)called you through ^(AJ)our gospel, ^[u]that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ So then, brothers and sisters, ^(AK)stand firm and ^(AL)hold on to the traditions which you were taught, whether ^(AM)by word of mouth or ^(AN)by letter ^[v]from us.

^16 (AO)Now may our Lord Jesus Christ ^(AP)Himself and God our Father, who has ^(AQ)loved us and given us eternal comfort and ^(AR)good hope by grace, ^17 (AS)comfort and ^(AT)strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.