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1st. Thessalonians 1
1Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus, to the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the
Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace, from God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ.
2We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
3Remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our
Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; 4Knowing, beloved brothers, your election
of God. 5For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy
Spirit and in much assurance; as you know what manner of men we were among you for your
sake.
6And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much
affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit: 7So that you were examples to all that believe in
Macedonia and Achaia. 8For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia
and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God is spread abroad; so that we do not
need to speak any thing. 9For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had to
you and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10And to wait for his
Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to
come.
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Chapter 2
1For yourselves, brothers, know our entrance in to you, that it was not in vain: 2But even after
that we had suffered before and were shamefully entreated, as you know, at Philippi, we were
bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God with much contention. 3For our exhortation
was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 4But as we were allowed of God to be put in
trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who tries our hearts. 5For
neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is
witness: 6Nor did we seek glory from men, nor from you, nor from others, when we might have
been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
7But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherishes her children: 8So being
affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted to you, not the gospel of God
only, but also our own souls, because you were dear to us. 9For you remember, brothers, our
labor and travail: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable to any of you,
we preached to you the gospel of God. 10You are witnesses and God also, how holily and justly
and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you who believe: 11As you know how we
exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father does his children, 12 That you
would walk worthy of God, who has called you to his kingdom and glory.
13For this cause also we thank God without ceasing, because, when you received the word of
God which you heard from us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the
word of God, which effectually works also in you who believe. 14For you, brothers, became
followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for you also have suffered
like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: 15Who both killed the Lord
Jesus and their own prophets and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are
contrary to all men: 16Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up
their sins always: for wrath is come on them to the uttermost.
17But we, brothers, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored
the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. 18Wherefore we would have come to you,
even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. 19For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of
rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 20For you
are our glory and joy.
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Chapter 3
1Therefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
2And sent Timotheus, our brother and minister of God and our fellow laborer in the gospel of
Christ, to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith: 3That no man should be
moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed to them. 4For truly, when
we were with you, we told you before that we would suffer trouble; even as it came to pass and
you know. 5For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by
some means the tempter has tempted you and our labor would be in vain.
6But now when Timotheus came from you to us and brought us good news of your faith and
love and that you always have a good remembrance of us , desiring greatly to see us, as we also
want to see you: 7Therefore, brothers, we were comforted by your faith, by you in all our
affliction and distress: 8For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. 9For what thanks can we
render to God again for you, for all the joy with which we joy for your sakes before our God; 10Night
and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face and might perfect that which is lacking
in your faith?
11Now God himself and our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. 12And
the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all men, even
as we toward you: 13To the end that he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before
God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
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Chapter 4
1Furthermore then we beseech you, brothers and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as you
have received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, so you would abound more and
more. 2For you know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3For this is the will
of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication: 4That every one of
you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor; 5Not in the lust of
concupiscence, even as the Gentiles who do not know God: 6That no man go beyond and defraud
his brother in any matter: because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have
forewarned you and testified. 7For God has not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness. 8He
therefore who despises, does not despise man, but God, who has also given to us his holy Spirit.
9But as touching brotherly love you do not need that I write to you: for you yourselves are
taught of God to love one another. 10And indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are in all
Macedonia: but we beseech you, brothers, that you increase more and more; 11And that you study
to be quiet and to do your own business and to work with your own hands, as we commanded
you; 12That you may walk honestly toward those who are without and that you may have lack of
nothing.
13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, that
you sorrow not, even as others who have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose
again, even so those also who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say to you by
the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain to the coming of the Lord shall not go
before those who are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet
the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Therefore comfort one another with
these words.
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Chapter 5
1But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write to you. 2For
yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3For when
they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes on them, as travail on a woman
with child; and they shall not escape. 4But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that that day should
overtake you as a thief. 5You are all the children of light and the children of the day: we are not
of the night, nor of darkness.
6Therefore let us not sleep, as others; but let us watch and be sober. 7For those who sleep
sleep in the night; and those who are drunk are drunk in the night. 8But let us, who are of the
day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and, the hope of salvation for a
helmet. 9For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11Therefore comfort yourselves together and edify one another, even as also you do. 12And
we beseech you, brothers, to know those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and
admonish you; 13And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace
among yourselves. 14Now we exhort you, brothers, warn those who are unruly, comfort the
feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15See that no one renders evil for
evil to any man; but always follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men.
16Rejoice evermore. 17Pray without ceasing. 18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of
God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not despise prophesying.
21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22Abstain from every appearance of evil.
23And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul
and body will be preserved blameless to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24He is faithful
who calls you, who also will do it. 25Brothers, pray for us. 26Greet all the brothers with a holy
kiss. 27I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brothers. 28The grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
[The first epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Athens.]
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