1 Thessalonians 3:6-5:11

New International Version

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

⁶ But Timothy^(A) has just now come to us from you^(B) and has brought good news about your faith and love.^(C) 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.^{(D) 7} Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. ⁸ For now we really live, since you are standing firm^(E) in the Lord. ⁹ How can we thank God enough for you^(F) in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?^{(G) 10} Night and day we pray^(H) most earnestly that we may see you again^(I) and supply what is lacking in your faith.

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

Living to Please God

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

³ It is God’s will^(S) that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;^{(T) 4} that each of you should learn to control your own body^[a](U) in a way that is holy and honorable, ⁵ not in passionate lust^(V) like the pagans,^(W) who do not know God;^{(X) 6} and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.^[b](Y) The Lord will punish^(Z) all those who commit such sins,^(AA) as we told you and warned you before. ⁷ For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.^{(AB) 8} Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.^(AC)

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

Believers Who Have Died

¹³ Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed^(AL) about those who sleep in death,^(AM) so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.^{(AN) 14} For we believe that Jesus died and rose again,^(AO) and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.^{(AP) 15} According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,^(AQ) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.^{(AR) 16} For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,^(AS) with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel^(AT) and with the trumpet call of God,^(AU) and the dead in Christ will rise first.^{(AV) 17} After that, we who are still alive and are left^(AW) will be caught up together with them in the clouds^(AX) to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord^(AY) forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another^(AZ) with these words.

The Day of the Lord

5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates^(BA) we do not need to write to you,^{(BB) 2} for you know very well that the day of the Lord^(BC) will come like a thief in the night.^{(BD) 3} While people are saying, “Peace and safety,”^(BE) destruction will come on them suddenly,^(BF) as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.^(BG)

⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness^(BH) so that this day should surprise you like a thief.^{(BI) 5} You are all children of the light^(BJ) and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶ So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep,^(BK) but let us be awake^(BL) and sober.^{(BM) 7} For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.^{(BN) 8} But since we belong to the day,^(BO) let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate,^(BP) and the hope of salvation^(BQ) as a helmet.^{(BR) 9} For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath^(BS) but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(BT) 10} He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.^{(BU) 11} Therefore encourage one another^(BV) and build each other up,^(BW) just as in fact you are doing.