Paul's manner of 1 THESSALONIANS, II. preaching the gospel. 7 So that ye were ensamples | know, nor a cloke of covetousto all that believe in Macedonia ness; God is witness: and Achaia. 6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. 8 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. 9 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; 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from, the wrath to come. CHAP. II. How they received the gospel. you, that it was not in vain: 2 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. 3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 4 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. 5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye 7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: 8 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. 9 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. 10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and selves among you that believe: 11 As you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. 13 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. 14 For ye, brethren, became Paul's love and great care 1 THESSALONIANS, for the Thessalonians : followers of the churches of God | and to comfort you concerning your faith; which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews; 3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we appointed thereunto. 4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to came to pass, and ye know. 15, 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; 16 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. 17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly see your face with great desire. 18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us, 19 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? 9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, joy. 20 For ye are our glory and for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; 5 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. 6 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; 7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you, in all our affliction and distress, by your faith: 8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. CHAP. III, Paul's love in sending them Timothy. W HEREFORE, when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; 2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, 11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord and our fellow-labourer in the Jesus Christ, direct our way gospel of Christ, to establish you, I unto you. 10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? He exhorteth them to please God, CHAP. IV. 12 And the Lord make you | to increase and abound in love one towards another, and towards all men, even as we do towards you: 13 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. FUR CHAP. IV. Exhortation to godliness. URTHERMORE 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. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 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. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. and to proceed in holiness. despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. 9 But as touching brotherly love, ye need not that I write unto you; for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 10 And indeed ye do it towards all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more: 11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 8 He therefore that despiseth, 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. 13 ¶ But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. are 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 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. 16 For the Lord himself shail 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: Certainty and suddenness 1 THESSALONIANS, of Christ's second coming. 17 Then we which are alive | obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 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. 10 Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. CHAP. V. 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish BUT Description of Christ's coming. UT of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 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. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken, are drunken in the night. 8 But let us who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breast plate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15 See that none render evil 16 Rejoice evermore. 19 Quench not the Spirit. 22 Abstain from all appear- 23 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. The apostle concludes with CHAP. V. salutation and prayer 24 Faithful is he that calleth | that this epistle be read unto all you, who also will do it. the holy brethren. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. 25 Brethren, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. 27 I charge you by the Lord, The Second Epistle of PAUL the Apostle to the THESSALONIANS. CHAP. I. PAL Paul's comfort against persecution. AUL, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth: 4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God, for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure; 5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgement of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; The first epistle unto the Thessalonians was written from Athens. |
