1 Thessalonians 4 - 2 Thessalonians 1

New International Version

Living to Please God

4 As for other matters, brothers and sisters,^(A) we instructed you how to live^(B) in order to please God,^(C) 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^(D) that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;^{(E) 4} that each of you should learn to control your own body^[a](F) in a way that is holy and honorable, ⁵ not in passionate lust^(G) like the pagans,^(H) who do not know God;^{(I) 6} and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.^[b](J) The Lord will punish^(K) all those who commit such sins,^(L) as we told you and warned you before. ⁷ For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.^{(M) 8} Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.^(N)

⁹ Now about your love for one another^(O) we do not need to write to you,^(P) for you yourselves have been taught by God^(Q) to love each other.^{(R) 10} And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia.^(S) Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,^{(T) 11} and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands,^(U) just as we told you, ¹² so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders^(V) 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^(W) about those who sleep in death,^(X) so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.^{(Y) 14} For we believe that Jesus died and rose again,^(Z) and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.^{(AA) 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,^(AB) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.^{(AC) 16} For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,^(AD) with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel^(AE) and with the trumpet call of God,^(AF) and the dead in Christ will rise first.^{(AG) 17} After that, we who are still alive and are left^(AH) will be caught up together with them in the clouds^(AI) to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord^(AJ) forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another^(AK) with these words.

The Day of the Lord

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

⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness^(AS) so that this day should surprise you like a thief.^{(AT) 5} You are all children of the light^(AU) 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,^(AV) but let us be awake^(AW) and sober.^{(AX) 7} For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.^{(AY) 8} But since we belong to the day,^(AZ) let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate,^(BA) and the hope of salvation^(BB) as a helmet.^{(BC) 9} For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath^(BD) but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(BE) 10} He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.^{(BF) 11} Therefore encourage one another^(BG) and build each other up,^(BH) just as in fact you are doing.

Final Instructions

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

¹⁶ Rejoice always,^{(BP) 17} pray continually,^{(BQ) 18} give thanks in all circumstances;^(BR) for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit.^{(BS) 20} Do not treat prophecies^(BT) with contempt ²¹ but test them all;^(BU) hold on to what is good,^{(BV) 22} reject every kind of evil.

²³ May God himself, the God of peace,^(BW) sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul^(BX) and body be kept blameless^(BY) at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(BZ) 24} The one who calls^(CA) you is faithful,^(CB) and he will do it.^(CC)

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

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

1 Paul, Silas^[c](CH) and Timothy,^(CI)

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

² Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.^(CK)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

³ We ought always to thank God for you,^(CL) brothers and sisters,^[d] and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.^{(CM) 4} Therefore, among God’s churches we boast^(CN) about your perseverance and faith^(CO) in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.^(CP)

⁵ All this is evidence^(CQ) that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy^(CR) of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. ⁶ God is just:^(CS) He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you^{(CT) 7} and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven^(CU) in blazing fire^(CV) with his powerful angels.^{(CW) 8} He will punish^(CX) those who do not know God^(CY) and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.^{(CZ) 9} They will be punished with everlasting destruction^(DA) and shut out from the presence of the Lord^(DB) and from the glory of his might^{(DC) 10} on the day^(DD) he comes to be glorified^(DE) in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.^(DF)

¹¹ With this in mind, we constantly pray for you,^(DG) that our God may make you worthy^(DH) of his calling,^(DI) and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness^(DJ) and your every deed prompted by faith.^{(DK) 12} We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,^(DL) and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.^[e]