1
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be to you.
1
1
For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not useless.
2
Rather, as you know, though we previously suffered and were shamefully treated at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much struggling.
3
For our exhortation was not from error, nor from uncleanness, nor from deceit.
4
Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be trusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please men, but God. He is the one who examines our hearts.
5
For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext to cover up greed—God is our witness.
6
Nor did we seek glory from people, either from you or from others.
7
We could have claimed privileges as apostles of Christ.
1
Instead, we were as gentle among you as a mother comforting her own children.
2
8
In this way we had affection for you. We were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives. For you had become very dear to us.
9
For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil. Night and day we were working so that we might not be a burden to any of you as we preached to you the gospel of God.
10
You are witnesses, and God also, how holy, righteous, and blameless was our behavior toward you who believe.
11
In the same way you know how we were with each one of you, as a father with his own children,
12
exhorting you and comforting you and urging you to walk in a manner that is worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
1
Therefore, when we could no longer bear it, we thought it was good to be left behind at Athens alone.
2
We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and comfort you regarding your faith,
1
3
so that no one would be shaken by these tribulations. For you yourselves know that for this we have been appointed.
4
Truly, when we were with you, we told you in advance that we were about to suffer affliction, and it happened just so, as you know.
5
For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent that I might know about your faith. Perhaps the tempter had somehow tempted you, and our labor was in vain.
6
But Timothy came to us from you and brought us the good news of your faith and love. He told us that you always have good memories of us, and that you long to see us just as we also long to see you.
7
Because of this, brothers, we were comforted by you because of your faith, in all our distress and affliction.
8
For now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord.
9
For what thanks can we give to God for you, for all the joy that we have before our God over you?
10
Night and day we pray very hard that we may see your face and provide what is lacking in your faith.
1
Finally, brothers, we earnestly appeal to you and exhort you in the Lord Jesus. As you received instructions from us about how you must walk and please God, also in this way walk, so that you do so even more.
2
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
3
For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you avoid sexual immorality,
4
that each of you knows how to possess his own vessel in holiness and honor,
5
not in the passion of lust (as the Gentiles who do not know God).
6
Let no man transgress and wrong his brother in this matter. For the Lord is an avenger in all these things, just as we forewarned you and testified.
7
For God did not call us to uncleanness, but to holiness.
8
Therefore, he who rejects this rejects not people, but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
1
Now concerning the times and seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you.
2
For you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the Lord is coming like a thief in the night.
3
When they say, "Peace and safety," then sudden destruction will come on them. It will be like birth pains in a pregnant woman. They will in no way escape.
4
But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that the day would overtake you like a thief.
5
For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not sons of the night or the darkness.
6
So then, let us not sleep as the rest do. Instead, let us keep watch and be sober.
7
For those who sleep do so at night, and those who get drunk do so at night.
8
But since we belong to the day, we must stay sober and put on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation for our helmet.
9
For God did not appoint us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10
who died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
11
Therefore comfort one another and build each other up, just as you are already doing.