in that our gospel did not come to you merely in words, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction (surely you recall the character we displayed when we came among you to help you).

And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, when you received the message with joy that comes from the Holy Spirit, despite great affliction.

and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.

Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, about our coming to you—it has not proven to be purposeless.

For the appeal we make does not come from error or impurity or with deceit,

because they hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they constantly fill up their measure of sins, but wrath has come upon them completely.

For we wanted to come to you (I, Paul, in fact tried again and again) but Satan thwarted us.

For who is our hope or joy or crown to boast of before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not of course you?

But now Timothy has come to us from you and given us the good news of your faith and love and that you always think of us with affection and long to see us just as we also long to see you!

so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

to aspire to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.

For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep.

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come in the same way as a thief in the night.

Now when they are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape.

He died for us so that whether we are alert or asleep we will come to life together with him.

And we urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient toward all.

Conclusion

Now may the God of peace himself make you completely holy and may your spirit and soul and body be kept entirely blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.