Book 52        1 Thessalonians

52:001:001 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.

52:001:002 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of
           you in our prayers;

52:001:003 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;

52:001:004 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

52:001:005 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.

52:001:006 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having
           received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy
           Ghost.

52:001:007 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and
           Achaia.

52:001:008 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.

52:001:009 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;

52:001:010 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the
           dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

52:002:001 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that
           it was not in vain:

52:002:002 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.

52:002:003 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor
           in guile:

52:002:004 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.

52:002:005 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know,
           nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

52:002:006 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others,
           when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

52:002:007 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her
           children:

52:002:008 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.

52:002:009 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.

52:002:010 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and
           unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

52:002:011 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one
           of you, as a father doth his children,

52:002:012 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his
           kingdom and glory.

52:002:013 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.

52:002:014 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:

52:002:015 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:

52:002:016 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.

52:002:017 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.

52:002:018 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and
           again; but Satan hindered us.

52:002:019 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?

52:002:020 For ye are our glory and joy.

52:003:001 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good
           to be left at Athens alone;

52:003:002 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:

52:003:003 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for
           yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

52:003:004 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.

52:003:005 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.

52:003:006 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:

52:003:007 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our
           affliction and distress by your faith:

52:003:008 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

52:003:009 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all
           the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;

52:003:010 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face,
           and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

52:003:011 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ,
           direct our way unto you.

52:003:012 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one
           toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

52:003:013 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.

52:004:001 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.

52:004:002 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

52:004:003 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye
           should abstain from fornication:

52:004:004 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in
           sanctification and honour;

52:004:005 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which
           know not God:

52:004:006 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.

52:004:007 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto
           holiness.

52:004:008 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who
           hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

52:004:009 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto
           you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

52:004:010 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;

52:004:011 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business,
           and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

52:004:012 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and
           that ye may have lack of nothing.

52:004:013 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.

52:004:014 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them
           also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

52:004:015 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.

52:004:016 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:

52:004:017 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.

52:004:018 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

52:005:001 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need
           that I write unto you.

52:005:002 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so
           cometh as a thief in the night.

52:005:003 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.

52:005:004 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should
           overtake you as a thief.

52:005:005 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day:
           we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

52:005:006 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and
           be sober.

52:005:007 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be
           drunken are drunken in the night.

52:005:008 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.

52:005:009 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain
           salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

52:005:010 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should
           live together with him.

52:005:011 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another,
           even as also ye do.

52:005:012 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among
           you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

52:005:013 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake.
           And be at peace among yourselves.

52:005:014 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly,
           comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward
           all men.

52:005:015 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever
           follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all
           men.

52:005:016 Rejoice evermore.

52:005:017 Pray without ceasing.

52:005:018 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in
           Christ Jesus concerning you.

52:005:019 Quench not the Spirit.

52:005:020 Despise not prophesyings.

52:005:021 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

52:005:022 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

52:005:023 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.

52:005:024 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

52:005:025 Brethren, pray for us.

52:005:026 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.

52:005:027 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all
           the holy brethren.

52:005:028 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.