Return to Home Page Grace Baptist Church

To listen quickly (within 8 seconds) click on "Listen" which is audio streamed. To listen using your computer media player, double-click on "Download". To save the file right-click on "download" and save to directory you choose.. The download files are in MP3 format..

The Book of 1 Thessalonians - Summary

This is a letter in the Bible's New Testament. Paul wrote this letter to Christians in Thessalonica. He thanked God for their faith, love and hope. They had turned from idols (false gods) to serve God. They were waiting for the return of Jesus. They trusted God in spite of great difficulties. Paul told them to please God by the way that they lived. They should be holy. They should work hard. And they should love each other. Then he answered their questions about the return of Jesus. He told them not to worry about those who had died. They would not miss Jesus' return. They would meet him before those who were still alive. The return of Jesus will be sudden. Therefore the Christians in Thessalonica must be ready for this. They must continue to work quietly.
http://www.easyenglish.info/bible-outline/1-thessalonians-summary.htm

Listen	Download	Introduction
Listen	Download	Chapter 1 Greeting; Thanksgiving.
Listen	Download	Chapter 2 Paul's Conduct; Reception and Opposition to the Message; Paul's Desire to See Them.
Listen	Download	Chapter 3 Anxiety in Athens; Encouraged by Timothy; Prayer for the Church.
Listen	Download	Chapter 4 The Call to Sanctification; Loving and Working; The Comfort of Christ's Coming.
Listen	Download	Chapter 5 The Day of the Lord; Exhortations and Blessings.

Book of 1Thessalonians Outlines by J.Vernon McGee PDF format <Link>

========================================================== http://www.easyenglish.info/english-learners-bible/1thess-taw.htm

About 1 Thessalonians

Thessalonica was a large city in Macedonia. Macedonia included the north part of the country that we call Greece. It included also the south part of the country that we call Yugoslavia. Thessalonica was an important port, and roads from several different directions joined there. So, people could travel easily to Thessalonica. It is still an important city today.

Paul was a great Christian teacher. He went to Thessalonica to teach the people there about Jesus Christ. He stayed there for only a short time, perhaps only a few weeks. Two other men, called Silas and Timothy, went there with him. As a result of what Paul taught them, some *Jews at Thessalonica believed Christ. Many other people who were not *Jews also believed. But the *Jews who refused to believe Christ caused a lot of trouble for Paul and his friends. Paul had to leave the city at night. Paul and his friends went to Berea, which was a city about 50 miles west from Thessalonica. (See Acts 17:1-15.)

Paul taught the people at Berea too. Then he travelled to Athens, a city in the south of Greece. But Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. Paul waited at Athens for them to come to him there (Acts 17:15-16). Paul was sorry that he had not had enough time at Thessalonica. He wanted to teach the new *believers there a lot more about Christ. But he could not go himself (1 Thessalonians 2:17-18). So, he sent Timothy (chapter 3:1-3).

While Timothy went back to Thessalonica, Paul travelled to Corinth (Acts 18:1). The city called Corinth was also in the south part of Greece. After that, Silas and Timothy arrived in Corinth (Acts 18:5). Then Timothy told Paul the news about the Christians at Thessalonica. Paul was very happy to know that they were continuing to believe Christ. He wrote this letter to them from Corinth.

Paul, together with Silas and Timothy, wrote this letter in the year *AD 50 or *AD 51. That was about 20 years after Jesus died. So, this letter may be the first of Paul’s letters that we have in the Bible. Paul wrote it only a few months after he had first taught the Christian message at Thessalonica. So, he was writing to people who had been Christians for only a short time.

Paul tells them that he always thinks about them. He wants very much to visit them again (chapters 2 and 3). Paul also teaches them about how they should do only good, right things, to make God happy. And in chapters 4 and 5, he teaches them about Jesus’ return to the earth.

Chapter 1

Paul thanks God for the *believers at Thessalonica

v1 This letter is from Paul, Silas and Timothy to the Christians at Thessalonica. You are united to God the Father and to the *Lord Jesus Christ. We pray that God will continue to be very kind to you. We pray also that he will cause you to be without trouble inside yourselves.

v2 We thank God for all of you at all times. Every time that we pray, we always pray for you. v3 We speak about you to God, who is our Father. We remember the good things that you do. You do those things because you believe Christ. You work very much because you love Christ and other people. We remember also how you continue to hope strongly because of our *Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse 3 The *believers at Thessalonica were sure that Jesus would save them completely. They were sure that he would return to the earth one day. They were sure that they would live with him always. They ‘hoped strongly’ for these things.

v4 You are like brothers and sisters to us, and God loves you. We know that God has chosen you to be his own. v5 We know that, because our good news came to you not only with words. When we told it to you, the power of God’s Spirit was there too. Also, we felt completely brave and strong when we spoke. You know how we lived among you. You know what kind of people we were. We were like good guides for you. v6 And you learned to live as we lived. So you learned also to live like the *Lord. People caused you a lot of trouble and pain because you believed the message about Christ. But you did believe it, and God’s Spirit caused you to be very happy. v7 And so you became like a guide to all the *believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

Verse 7 Macedonia included the north part of the country that we call Greece. It included also the south part of the country that we call Yugoslavia. Achaia was the south part of Greece.

v8 Because of you, people in many places have listened to the message about the *Lord. It was not only the people in Macedonia and in Achaia who listened to these things. But people everywhere know how you believe God. So, we do not need to say anything. v9 Those people themselves speak about how you believed our message. They tell how you turned to God. They tell us how you stopped *worshipping false gods. They themselves say that you are now God’s servants. God is alive, and only he is really God. v10 Also, you are waiting for God’s Son to come from *heaven. God caused his Son, Jesus, to become alive again after he had died. And Jesus saves us so that God will not be angry with us at that future time.

Verse 10 ‘That future time’ means: the time when God will show what he has decided about each person. He will decide where they go after death. He will be angry with people who have not obeyed him. (See, for example, Ephesians 5:6; John 3:36 and Colossians 3:6.)

Chapter 2

Paul’s work in Thessalonica

v1 Our friends, you yourselves know that our visit to you had good results. v2 Before we came to you, the people at Philippi had done bad things to hurt us. And they had spoken very bad words to us. You know that. But our God caused us to be brave so that we could tell you his good news. Many people tried to stop us, but we did tell you God’s message.

Verse 2 Philippi was another city in Macedonia. It was about 115 kilometres (75 miles) east from Thessalonica. Paul and his friends had been at Philippi before they came to Thessalonica. Some people at Philippi had hurt Paul and Silas very much. Then they put Paul and Silas into a prison. (See Acts 16:12-40.)

v3 We were telling you the good news so that you could believe God. We told you only true things. We had no wrong purpose. We did not want you to believe things that are not true. v4 Instead, we say what God wants us to say. He has chosen us to tell his good news. We do not speak so that we can make people happy. But we do want to make God happy. And God discovers what our purposes really are, deep inside ourselves. v5 We never tried to say nice things about you so that you would like us. You know that. We never demanded money or other things from you. We never had a secret purpose like that. God knows this. v6 We did not want people to say great things about us. We did not want you to do that. And we did not want anyone else to do that. We are Christ’s special workers and teachers. So, we could have used our authority over you. We could have caused you to do things for us. We could have caused you to supply things for us.

Verses 3-6 We think that some people at Thessalonica may have said bad things about Paul and his friends. They may have told the Christians there that Paul did not really love them. They may have said that really Paul only wanted power and money for himself. So, in this chapter, Paul is explaining that he never had any wrong purpose like that. He only wanted to do what was best for the *believers at Thessalonica.

v7 But instead, we were kind when we were with you. We were kind like a mother who *looks after her little children. v8 We were very fond of you. So, we wanted very much to tell you the good news from God. Also, we wanted to give ourselves completely to help you. We wanted to do these things because we loved you very much. v9 Our friends, you should certainly remember how we worked so very much. We worked during the day and at night. We worked so that we did not need to ask any of you for anything. So then, we did not cost you anything while we taught you God’s good news.

Verse 9 While Paul, Silas and Timothy were at Thessalonica, they worked, to get some money. We do not know the kind of work that they did. But we know that Paul could make tents. (See Acts 18:3.) (Tents are houses that people make from cloth or animals’ skins. They use long pieces of wood to hold up the cloth or skins.)

v10 When we were with you *believers, we did nothing wrong. We did only what is completely good and right. You know that, and God knows it too. v11-12 You know that we helped each of you. We were like a father who helps his own children. We taught you and we helped you to be brave and strong as *believers. And we told you very strongly what you must do. You must do what makes God happy. God has chosen you to belong to his own people, the people that he rules over. He wants you to be with him always, in the beautiful place where he lives.

v13 There is also another reason why we continue to thank God always. When we told God’s message to you, you believed it as words from God. You knew that it was not only a human message. You believed it as God’s message, which it certainly is. And God’s words do powerful things in you who believe him.

v14 And now, my friends, you have become like the Christians who belong to God’s people in Judea. People in your own country have caused trouble and pain for you. And that is what happened in Judea too to the *believers in Christ Jesus there. People in their own country caused trouble and pain for them.

Verse 14 Judea was the south part of Israel. The people who lived there were sometimes called Jews.

v15 The people who caused that trouble even killed the *Lord Jesus and the *prophets. And they caused trouble for us so that they caused us to leave their country. God is not happy with those people. He is very angry with them. They are very much against people everywhere v16 because they do not want us to speak to people from other *nations. They do not want God to save anyone from another *nation. Those people always continue until they have done their last *sin. But in the end, God has *punished them.

Verse 15 Prophets are people who speak God’s messages.

Paul wants to visit the *believers at Thessalonica again

v17 But you are like brothers and sisters to us. We have had to go away from you for a short time. But it was only our bodies that left you. We did not stop thinking about you. We wanted very, very much to see your faces. And we tried very much to visit you again. v18 We wanted to return to you. Certainly, I, Paul, tried again and again to return, but *Satan made it impossible. v19 We wanted so much to visit you because you cause us to hope so strongly! You make us sure that God will continue to work in you. You cause us to be very happy! To us, you are like a *crown that a winner receives. The *crown shows that the winner has done well. You show that our work among you had good results. So, you are our *crown that makes us very happy. We will be very happy when we stand in front of our *Lord Jesus. That will be when he comes again. v20 Yes, it is because of you that we are so happy. We are happy about the results of our work.

Verse 19 A crown is a special kind of hat that people gave to winners then.

Chapter 3

Timothy has told good news to Paul about the *believers at Thessalonica

v1 When we could not wait any longer to know news about you, we decided to stay in Athens city alone. We thought that it was the best thing to do. v2 And we sent Timothy to visit you. He is like our brother. He works with us for God, to tell people the good news about Christ. We sent Timothy so that he could help you to believe Christ strongly and to be brave. v3 So then none of you will stop believing because of the troubles and pain that people cause you. You yourselves know that there must be troubles and pain for us. That is part of God’s purpose for us.

v4 Even when we were with you, we told you to be ready for future trouble. We told you that people would certainly cause you a lot of trouble and pain. And that did happen. You know that. v5 That is why I had to send Timothy. I could not wait any longer, so I sent him to you. I wanted to know whether you were continuing to believe Christ. I was afraid that *Satan had caused you to turn away from Christ. So all our work among you would have no results.

v6 But now Timothy has come back to us from you. And he has told us good news about you. He has told us how you are continuing to believe Christ. You are continuing, also, to love God and each other. And you are always happy when you think about us. You want very much to meet us again, as we want to meet you. Timothy has told us these things. v7 So, we have become stronger and braver because of you, who are like brothers and sisters to us. People have caused us very much trouble and pain. But we were very happy to know that you were continuing to believe Christ.

v8 Now, because of you, we are like people who have become alive again. You are united to the *Lord. And if you continue to believe him strongly, that makes us very happy. v9 Now we can thank God very much for you! We are very, very happy when we talk to God about you. And so we thank him for that. v10 We continue to ask God that we might visit you. We pray like that every day and every night. We want very, very much to visit you. We want to teach things to you that you still need to know. So then you can really believe Christ as you should believe him.

v11 We pray this to God himself, who is our Father, and to our *Lord Jesus. We pray that they will prepare the way for us to visit you. v12 We pray also that the *Lord will cause you to love each other more and more. We love you. And we want you to go on loving all people more and more in the same way. v13 So, the *Lord will cause you to become strong inside yourselves. You will be completely good and clean for God, who is our Father. So then nobody can ever say that you have done anything wrong. And you will stand in front of God when our *Lord Jesus comes. Jesus will return to this earth, with all those who are his own.

Chapter 4

A life that makes God happy

v1 Now, friends, we want to say this to you. We taught you how to live so that you make God happy. And certainly, you are living like that. Now we ask you very strongly to continue to live like that more and more. On behalf of the *Lord Jesus, we ask you to do this. v2 You know what we told you. We told you what you must do. The *Lord Jesus gave us authority to tell you those things.

v3 What God wants is this: He wants you to be completely good, and separate from everything that is bad. So you must not have wrong sex. You must not have sex with anyone who is not your own wife or husband. v4 Each of you must learn how to rule his own body. So then you will always do what is right and proper. v5 You should not be like the people who do not know God. They are always wanting very much to have sex. They cannot stop themselves, because they want it so much. But you should not be like those people. v6 No man among you should ever have sex with a woman who is not his own wife. He would be taking something that is another man’s. So, he would be doing a wrong thing to that man, who is like his brother. The *Lord will *punish everyone who does things like that. We have told you this very seriously before. v7 God did not choose us to do bad and dirty things. He chose us to be completely separate from everything that is bad. v8 So anyone who does not obey this rule is not refusing to obey a human person. Instead, he is refusing to do what God says. And God gives you his Spirit, who is completely good.

v9 But I do not need to write to you about how you should love other *believers. God himself has taught you to love each other. v10 Certainly, you do love all the *believers in all Macedonia. But we ask you strongly, friends, to love each other more and more. v11 Try very much not to cause trouble for anyone. Be busy only with your own things, not with other people’s things. And work with your hands. We told you before that you must do these things. v12 Then, if you do these things, other people will think good things about you. People who do not believe Christ will think good things about you. They will know that you are honest and good. Also, if you do these things, you will not need anyone else to supply anything for you.

Jesus’ return and the *believers who have died

v13 Friends, we want you to understand properly about the people who have died. So you will not be sad about them, as other people are sad about their dead friends. Those other people are sad because they have nothing to hope for, after death. v14 But we believe that Jesus died. We believe that he became alive again after death. So, we also believe this about the people who have died united to Christ. We believe that God will bring those people back with Jesus.

v15 We are now telling you something that the *Lord has said. We tell you this about the day when the *Lord will come. Those of us who are still alive on that day will not go to meet the *Lord first. We will certainly not go before those people who have already died. v16 On that day, God will shout with authority. Also, people will hear the voice of an important *angel. They will hear the sound of God’s *trumpet. And the *Lord himself will come down from *heaven. Then those people who have died united to Christ will become alive again. And they will rise first. v17 After that, those of us who are still alive at that time will go up. God will take us up to be together with them in the clouds. He will take us to meet the *Lord in the air. And so we will be with the *Lord always. v18 So tell these things to each other. So you will not need to continue being sad.

Verses 13-18 Timothy may have told Paul that the Christians at Thessalonica were confused. They may have been sad about their Christian friends who had died already. They did not know what to believe about those people. So, Paul wanted them to know that they would all live with Christ always.

Chapter 5

We must be ready for Jesus to return

v1 Friends, we do not need to write to you about the dates and times when these things will happen. v2 You know very well about how the day of the *Lord’s return will happen. That day will surprise people very much, as when someone comes to rob people at night. v3 At that time, people will say, ‘We are safe and there is no trouble for us.’ But then, when they are not ready for it, a lot of trouble and pain will happen to them. That trouble will happen to them like the pains of a woman who is giving birth to a baby. And it will be impossible for anyone to get free from that trouble.

v4 But you people, who are like brothers and sisters to us, you know about these things. So, you are not like people who live in the dark. And so the day when the *Lord returns should not surprise you. That day will not surprise you as when someone comes to rob people. v5 All of you are people who are the *Lord’s people. So, you belong to the light and to the day. We are not people who belong to the night or to the dark. v6 So, we should not be like other people. We should not be like people who are sleeping. Instead, we should be like people who continue to be awake. We should think clearly about what is happening.

v7 It is at night that people sleep. It is at night that people are drunks. v8 But we belong to the day. So we should watch and we should think clearly. We must continue to believe God and to love him. So we will be like soldiers who put on *breastplates. Also, we must continue to hope strongly that God will save us. So we will be like soldiers who put on metal hats to keep their heads safe.

Verse 8 A breastplate is a big metal plate that a soldier wore over the front of his body. The breastplate made it impossible for anything to hurt the soldier during a war.

v9 God did not make us his people so that he could be angry with us. He has not chosen us so that he can *punish us. Instead, he has chosen us so that he can save us. He saves us because of what our *Lord Jesus Christ has done. v10 Jesus died for us so that we can live together with him. When he comes, we will live with him. Whether we are alive or dead at that time, there will not be any difference. We will all live with him. v11 So, tell these things to each other so that you do not feel sad or weak. Help each other to become stronger as *believers, as you are doing already.

Paul’s last words in this letter

v12 Now we ask you, our friends, to remember how valuable your leaders are. They work among you and they *look after you. They teach you how you should live as the *Lord’s people. They tell you when you do wrong things. v13 Show them how valuable they are to you. And love them very much because of the work that they do. Do not quarrel with each other.

v14 Tell lazy people that they should work. Speak to those people who are afraid. Help them to be brave. Help those people who are weak. Be patient with everyone. Friends, we ask you strongly to do these things. v15 If a person has done something wrong to you, do not do something wrong back to them. Be careful that none of you does things like that. But always try to do good things to each other and to everyone else.

Verse 14 All the Christians at Thessalonica were waiting for Jesus to return. They thought that he would come soon. Some of them may have thought that they did not have to continue to work. But nobody knows when the *Lord will return. So Paul is teaching them about that. They must continue to work. They must go on living in a way that makes God happy.

v16 Always be happy. v17 Pray at all times. v18 Whatever things may happen to you, continue to thank God. God wants you to do this, because you are united to Christ Jesus. v19 Do not stop letting God’s Spirit work in you as people might put out a fire. v20 Listen carefully when people speak messages on God’s behalf. Remember that those messages are important. v21 But think carefully about everything, to see if it really is from God. Then be careful to remember and to obey everything that is good. v22 Refuse to have anything to do with any kind of bad or wrong thing.

v23 God causes us to be without trouble inside ourselves. And I pray that God himself will make you completely good and clean. I pray that God will *look after your *spirits, your *souls and your bodies. I pray that he will *look after you completely. Then you will be completely good and clean when our *Lord Jesus Christ returns. v24 God has chosen you to be his people. And he always does what he has promised to do. So, he will do this for you.

v25 Our friends, please pray for us. v26 Say ‘hello’ to all the *believers. Kiss them as you would kiss your brother.

v27 I tell you very seriously, on behalf of the *Lord, that you should read this letter to all the *believers. v28 I pray that our *Lord Jesus Christ will continue to be very kind to you.

Word List

AD ~ AD 50 means 50 years after Jesus came, and so on.

angel ~ a *spirit. Good angels come from God’s home above the earth. They are God’s servants and they bring messages from God to people.

being ~ a person or an animal that is alive.

believer ~ a person who knows and accepts Christ.

breastplate ~ a big metal plate that a soldier wore over the front of his body.

crown ~ a special kind of hat that people gave to winners then.

heaven ~ the place beyond the earth where God and Jesus Christ live.

Jew ~ a person who is born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.

look after ~ to give help to someone and to supply what someone or something needs.

Lord ~ master; another name for God or Jesus, which means that he is greater than everyone else.

nation ~ people who live together in the same country.

prophet ~ someone who speaks God’s messages.

punish ~ to hurt someone, or to cause trouble for them, because they have done bad things.

Satan ~ another name for the Devil. He is the bad *spirit who is the enemy of God. He is the ruler of bad *angels and of all that is bad. He is the enemy of Christians.

sin ~ what you do when you do not obey God.

soul ~ a part of a person that we cannot see. Our soul is in us while we are alive. It continues to live after we die.

spirit ~ a *being that is always alive, even without a body. There are good spirits, like God’s Spirit and his *angels. And there are bad spirits, like *Satan and his *angels. A person’s spirit is the part of them that will always be alive. It will be alive even after their body is dead. God can speak to our spirit.

trumpet ~ a metal pipe with a wide end. People use their mouths to make music with it.

worship ~ to tell someone that they are very great and that you love them; to love and thank someone (God) more than anyone else.

Book List

A. Marshall ~ The Interlinear Greek-English New Testament ~ Zondervan

P. Ellingworth & E. A. Nida ~ A Translator’s Handbook on Paul’s Letters to the Thessalonians ~ United Bible Societies, Stuttgart

L. Morris ~ The First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians ~ New International Commentary on the New Testament ~ Eerdmans Publishing Company

F. F. Bruce ~ 1 & 2 Thessalonians ~ Word Biblical Commentary ~ Thomas Nelson

Various Bible versions

==========================================================

Book 52	1 Thessalonians

King James Version

001:001	Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
001:002	We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
001:003	Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
001:004	Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
001:005	For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
001:006	And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.
001:007	So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
001:008	For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
001:009	For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
001:010	And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

002:001	For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
002:002	But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
002:003	For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
002:004	But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
002:005	For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
002:006	Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
002:007	But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
002:008	So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
002:009	For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
002:010	Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
002:011	As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
002:012	That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
002:013	For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
002:014	For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
002:015	Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
002:016	Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
002:017	But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
002:018	Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
002:019	For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
002:020	For ye are our glory and joy.

003:001	Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
003:002	And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
003:003	That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
003:004	For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
003:005	For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
003:006	But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
003:007	Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
003:008	For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
003:009	For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
003:010	Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
003:011	Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.
003:012	And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
003:013	To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

004:001	Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
004:002	For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
004:003	For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
004:004	That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
004:005	Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
004:006	That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
004:007	For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
004:008	He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
004:009	But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
004:010	And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
004:011	And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
004:012	That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
004:013	But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
004:014	For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
004:015	For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
004:016	For 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:
004:017	Then we which 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.
004:018	Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

005:001	But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
005:002	For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
005:003	For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
005:004	But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
005:005	Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
005:006	Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
005:007	For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
005:008	But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
005:009	For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
005:010	Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
005:011	Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
005:012	And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
005:013	And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
005:014	Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
005:015	See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
005:016	Rejoice evermore.
005:017	Pray without ceasing.
005:018	In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
005:019	Quench not the Spirit.
005:020	Despise not prophesyings.
005:021	Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
005:022	Abstain from all appearance of evil.
005:023	And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
005:024	Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
005:025	Brethren, pray for us.
005:026	Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
005:027	I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
005:028	The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.