Chronological

Thanksgiving

1 ^(A)Paul and ^(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 give thanks to God always for all of you, ^(G)making mention of you in our prayers; ³ remembering without ceasing your ^(H)work of faith and labor of ^(I)love and ^[a](J)steadfastness of hope ^[b]in our Lord Jesus Christ before ^(K)our God and Father, ⁴ knowing, ^(L)brothers beloved by God, ^(M)your election, 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 assurance; just as you know ^(Q)what kind of men we ^[c]proved to be among you for your sake. ⁶ You also became ^(R)imitators of us and of the Lord, ^(S)having received ^(T)the word in much affliction with the ^(U)joy of the Holy Spirit, ⁷ so that you became a model to all the believers in ^(V)Macedonia and in ^(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 also ^(AB)in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. ⁹ For they themselves report about us what kind of an ^(AC)entrance we had ^[d]with you, and how you ^(AD)turned to God ^(AE)from ^[e]idols to serve ^[f](AF)a living and true God, ¹⁰ and to ^(AG)wait for His Son from ^[g]heaven, whom He ^(AH)raised from the dead, Jesus, who ^(AI)rescues us from ^(AJ)the wrath to come.

Entrusted with the Gospel

2 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our ^(AK)entrance to you ^(AL)was not in vain, ² but after we had already suffered and been ^(AM)mistreated in ^(AN)Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God ^(AO)to speak to you the ^(AP)gospel of God amid much ^(AQ)struggle. ³ For our ^(AR)exhortation does not come from ^(AS)error or ^(AT)impurity or ^[h]by way of ^(AU)deceit; ^4 (AV)but just as we have been approved by God to be ^(AW)entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, ^(AX)not as pleasing men, but God who ^[i](AY)examines our hearts. ⁵ For we never came with a flattering word, as you know, nor with ^(AZ)a pretext for greed—^(BA)God is witness— ⁶ nor ^(BB)seeking glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as ^(BC)apostles of Christ we ^[j]could have been a burden to you. ⁷ But we ^[k]proved to be ^[l](BD)gentle ^[m]among you, ^(BE)as a nursing mother ^[n]tenderly cares for her own children. ⁸ In this way, having fond affection for you, we were pleased to ^(BF)impart to you not only the ^(BG)gospel of God but also our own ^[o]lives, because you had become beloved to us.

⁹ For you remember, brothers, our ^(BH)labor and hardship, how ^(BI)working night and day so as not to be a ^(BJ)burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the ^(BK)gospel of God. ¹⁰ You are witnesses, and so is ^(BL)God, of ^(BM)how devoutly and righteously and blamelessly we ^[p]behaved toward you ^[q]believers; ¹¹ just as you know how we were ^(BN)exhorting and encouraging and ^(BO)bearing witness to each one of you as ^(BP)a father would his own children, ¹² so that you would ^(BQ)walk in a manner worthy of the God who ^(BR)calls you into His own kingdom and ^(BS)glory.

¹³ And for this reason we also ^(BT)thank God without ceasing that when you received the ^(BU)word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it ^(BV)not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, ^(BW)which also is at work in you who believe. ¹⁴ For you, brothers, became ^(BX)imitators of ^(BY)the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are ^(BZ)in Judea, for ^(CA)you also suffered the same things at the hands of your own countrymen, ^(CB)even as they did from the Jews, ^15 (CC)who both killed the Lord Jesus and ^(CD)the prophets, and ^[r]drove us out, and do not please God, and are hostile to all men, ^16 (CE)hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles ^(CF)so that they may be saved; with the result that they always ^(CG)fill up the measure of their sins. But ^(CH)wrath has come upon them ^[s]to the utmost.

¹⁷ But we, brothers, having been taken away from you for a ^[t]short while—^(CI)in face but not in heart—were all the more eager with great desire ^(CJ)to see your face. ^18 [u]For ^(CK)we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, ^[v](CL)more than once—and yet ^(CM)Satan ^(CN)hindered us. ¹⁹ For who is our hope or ^(CO)joy or crown of boasting? Is it not even you, before our Lord Jesus at His ^[w](CP)coming? ²⁰ For you are ^(CQ)our glory and joy.

Timothy’s Good Report

3 Therefore ^(CR)when we could endure it no longer, we were pleased to be left behind at ^(CS)Athens alone, ² and we sent ^(CT)Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, ³ so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions, for you yourselves know that ^(CU)we have been destined for this. ⁴ For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction, ^(CV)just as it happened and as you know. ⁵ For this reason, ^(CW)when I could endure it no longer, I also ^(CX)sent to know about your faith, lest somehow ^(CY)the tempter has tempted you, and ^(CZ)our labor be in vain.

⁶ But now that ^(DA)Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of ^(DB)your faith and love, and that you always ^(DC)remember us kindly, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, ⁷ for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; ⁸ for now we really live, if you ^(DD)stand firm in the Lord. ⁹ For ^(DE)what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God because of you, ¹⁰ as we ^(DF)night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may ^(DG)see your face, and may ^(DH)complete what is lacking in your faith?

^11 (DI)Now may ^(DJ)our God and Father ^(DK)Himself and Jesus our Lord ^(DL)direct our way to you, ¹² and may the Lord cause you to increase and ^(DM)abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you, ¹³ so that He may ^(DN)strengthen your hearts ^(DO)blameless in holiness, before ^(DP)our God and Father, at the ^[x](DQ)coming of our Lord Jesus ^(DR)with all His ^[y]saints.

Sanctification and Love

4 ^(DS)Finally then, ^(DT)brothers, we ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us as to how you ought to ^[z](DU)walk and ^(DV)please God (just as you actually do ^[aa]walk), that you ^(DW)excel still more. ² For you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. ³ For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you ^(DX)abstain from ^[ab]sexual immorality; ⁴ that ^(DY)each of you know how to ^[ac]possess his own ^[ad](DZ)vessel in sanctification and ^(EA)honor, ⁵ not in ^[ae](EB)lustful passion, like the Gentiles who ^(EC)do not know God; ⁶ and that no man transgress and ^(ED)defraud his brother ^(EE)in the matter because ^(EF)the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also ^(EG)told you before and solemnly warned you. ⁷ For ^(EH)God did not call us to ^(EI)impurity, but ^[af]in sanctification. ⁸ Consequently, he who sets this aside is not setting aside man but the God who ^(EJ)gives His Holy Spirit to you.

⁹ Now concerning ^(EK)love of the brothers, you ^(EL)have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are ^(EM)taught by God to love one another, ¹⁰ for indeed ^(EN)you do practice it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to ^(EO)excel still more, ¹¹ and to make it your ambition ^(EP)to lead a quiet life and ^(EQ)attend to your own business and ^(ER)work with your hands, just as we commanded you, ¹² so that you will ^(ES)walk properly toward ^(ET)outsiders and ^[ag](EU)not be in any need.

The Dead in Christ Will Rise

¹³ But ^(EV)we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who ^(EW)are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do ^(EX)the rest who have ^(EY)no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, ^(EZ)even so God will bring with Him ^(FA)those who have fallen asleep ^[ah]in Jesus. ¹⁵ For this we say to you ^(FB)by the word of the Lord, that ^(FC)we who are alive ^[ai]and remain until ^(FD)the coming of the Lord, will not precede ^(FE)those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord ^(FF)Himself ^(FG)will descend from heaven with a ^[aj](FH)shout, with the voice of ^(FI)the archangel and with the ^(FJ)trumpet of God, and ^(FK)the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then ^(FL)we who are alive ^[ak]and remain will be ^(FM)caught up together with them ^(FN)in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always ^(FO)be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.

The Day of the Lord

5 Now concerning the ^(FP)times and the seasons, brothers, you ^(FQ)have no need of anything to be written to you. ² For you yourselves know full well that ^(FR)the day of the Lord ^[al]will come ^(FS)just like a thief in the night. ³ While they are saying, “^(FT)Peace and safety!” then ^[am](FU)destruction ^[an]will come upon them suddenly like ^(FV)labor pains upon a woman who is pregnant, and they will never escape. ⁴ But you, brothers, are not in ^(FW)darkness, that the day would overtake you ^[ao](FX)like a thief, ⁵ for you are all ^(FY)sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of ^(FZ)darkness; ⁶ so then let us not ^(GA)sleep as ^[ap](GB)others do, but let us be awake and ^[aq](GC)sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get ^(GD)drunk at night. ⁸ But since ^(GE)we are of the day, let us ^(GF)be ^[ar]sober, having put on the ^(GG)breastplate of ^(GH)faith and love, and as a ^(GI)helmet, the ^(GJ)hope of salvation. ⁹ For God has not appointed us for ^(GK)wrath, but for ^(GL)obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ^10 (GM)who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. ¹¹ Therefore, ^[as]comfort one another and ^(GN)build up one another, just as you also are doing.

Admonishment and Instruction

¹² But we ask of you, brothers, that you ^(GO)know those ^(GP)who labor among you, and ^(GQ)lead you in the Lord and admonish you, ¹³ and that you regard them very highly in love because of their work. ^(GR)Live in peace with one another. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers, admonish ^(GS)the ^[at]unruly, encourage ^(GT)the fainthearted, help ^(GU)the weak, be ^(GV)patient with everyone. ¹⁵ See that ^(GW)no one repays another with evil for evil, but always ^(GX)seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. ^16 (GY)Rejoice always; ^17 (GZ)pray without ceasing; ¹⁸ in everything ^(HA)give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ^19 (HB)Do not quench the Spirit; ²⁰ do not despise ^(HC)prophecies, ²¹ but ^(HD)examine all things; ^(HE)hold fast to that which is good; ²² abstain from every ^[au]form of evil.

²³ Now ^(HF)may the God of peace ^(HG)Himself sanctify you entirely, and may your ^(HH)spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, ^(HI)without blame at ^(HJ)the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ^24 (HK)Faithful is He who ^(HL)calls you, who also will do it.

²⁵ Brothers, ^(HM)pray for us^[av].

^26 (HN)Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. ²⁷ I implore you by the Lord to ^(HO)have this letter read to all the ^(HP)brothers.

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

Greetings of Grace and Thanksgiving

1 ^(A)Paul and ^(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 the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

³ We ought always ^(F)to give thanks to God for you, ^(G)brothers, as is only fitting, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the ^(H)love of each one of you all toward one another increases all the more, ⁴ so that we ourselves ^(I)boast about you among ^(J)the churches of God for your ^[a]perseverance and faith ^(K)in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.

God’s Righteous Judgment

⁵ This is a ^(L)plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be ^(M)considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. ^6 [b]Since ^(N)it is right ^[c]for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, ⁷ and to give rest to you who are afflicted ^[d]and to us as well ^(O)at the revelation of the Lord Jesus ^(P)from heaven ^(Q)with ^[e]His mighty angels ^(R)in flaming fire, ⁸ executing vengeance on those who ^(S)do not know God and to those who ^(T)do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. ⁹ These will pay the penalty of ^(U)eternal destruction, ^(V)away from the presence of the ^[f]Lord and from the glory of His might, ¹⁰ when He comes to be ^(W)glorified ^[g]in His ^[h]saints on that ^(X)day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our ^(Y)witness to you was believed. ¹¹ To this end also we ^(Z)pray for you always, that our God will ^[i](AA)count you worthy of your ^(AB)calling, and fulfill all your ^(AC)good pleasure for ^(AD)goodness and the ^(AE)work of faith with power, ¹² so that the ^(AF)name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Man of Lawlessness

2 Now we ask you, ^(AG)brothers, with regard to the ^[j](AH)coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our ^(AI)gathering together to Him, ² that you not be quickly shaken in your mind or be alarmed whether by a ^(AJ)spirit or a ^(AK)word or a ^(AL)letter as if from us, to the effect that ^(AM)the day of the Lord ^(AN)has come. ^3 (AO)Let no one in any way deceive you, for it has not come unless the ^[k](AP)apostasy comes first, and the ^(AQ)man of lawlessness is revealed, the ^(AR)son of destruction, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself above ^[l](AS)every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the ^[m]sanctuary of God, ^(AT)exhibiting himself as being God. ⁵ Do you not remember that ^(AU)while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? ⁶ And you know ^(AV)what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. ⁷ For ^(AW)the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only ^(AX)he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. ⁸ And then that lawless one ^(AY)will be revealed—whom the Lord ^[n]Jesus ^(AZ)will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the ^(BA)appearance of His ^[o]coming— ⁹ whose ^[p]coming is in accord with the working of ^(BB)Satan, with all power and ^[q](BC)signs and false wonders, ¹⁰ and with ^[r]all the deception of unrighteousness for ^(BD)those who perish, because they did not receive the love of ^(BE)the truth so as to be saved. ¹¹ And for this reason ^(BF)God sends upon them a ^[s](BG)deluding influence so that they will believe ^[t]what is false, ¹² in order that they all may be ^[u]judged who ^(BH)did not believe the truth, but ^[v](BI)took pleasure in unrighteousness.

^13 (BJ)But we should always give thanks to God for you, ^(BK)brothers beloved by the Lord, because ^(BL)God has chosen you ^[w]as the first fruits ^(BM)for salvation ^(BN)through sanctification ^[x]by the Spirit and faith in the truth. ^14 [y]It was for this He ^(BO)called you through ^(BP)our gospel, ^[z]that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ So then, brothers, ^(BQ)stand firm and ^(BR)hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether ^(BS)by word of mouth or ^(BT)by letter ^[aa]from us.

^16 (BU)Now may our Lord Jesus Christ ^(BV)Himself and God our Father, who has ^(BW)loved us and given us eternal comfort and ^(BX)good hope by grace, ^17 (BY)encourage your hearts and ^(BZ)strengthen them in every good work and word.

Disobedient Brothers

3 ^(CA)Finally, brothers, ^(CB)pray for us that ^(CC)the word of the Lord will ^[ab]spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; ² and that we will be ^(CD)rescued from ^[ac]perverse and evil men, for not all have ^[ad]faith. ³ But ^(CE)the Lord is faithful, who will strengthen and guard you ^[ae]from ^(CF)the evil one. ⁴ And we have ^(CG)confidence in the Lord about you, that you ^(CH)are doing and will continue to do what we command. ⁵ And may the Lord ^(CI)direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.

⁶ Now we command you, brothers, ^(CJ)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you ^[af](CK)keep away from every brother who walks in an ^[ag](CL)unruly manner and not according to ^(CM)the tradition which ^[ah]they received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to ^(CN)imitate us, because we did not act in an unruly manner among you, ⁸ nor did we ^(CO)eat ^[ai]anyone’s bread ^[aj]without paying for it, but with ^(CP)labor and hardship we kept ^(CQ)working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; ⁹ not because we do not have ^(CR)the authority, but in order to offer ourselves ^(CS)as a model for you, so that you would imitate us. ¹⁰ For even ^(CT)when we were with you, we used to command this to you: ^(CU)if anyone is not willing to work, neither let him eat. ¹¹ For we hear that some among you are ^(CV)walking in an unruly manner, doing no work at all, but acting like ^(CW)busybodies. ¹² Now such persons we command and ^(CX)exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that ^(CY)working with quietness, they eat their own bread. ¹³ But as for you, ^(CZ)brothers, ^(DA)do not lose heart in doing good.

¹⁴ And if anyone does not obey our word ^[ak](DB)in this letter, take special note of that person ^(DC)to not associate with him, so that he will be ^(DD)put to shame. ¹⁵ And yet ^(DE)do not regard him as an enemy, but ^[al](DF)admonish him as a ^(DG)brother.

¹⁶ Now ^(DH)may the Lord of peace ^(DI)Himself continually give you peace in every ^[am]circumstance. ^(DJ)The Lord be with you all!

¹⁷ The greeting ^(DK)is in my own hand—^[an]Paul, which is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write. ^18 (DL)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.