The Epistle of St Paul the Apostle
to the Thessalonians
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The 1st
Chapter
Paul Silvanus and Timotheus. Unto the congregation of the
Thessalonians, in God the father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace be with you, peace from God our father, and from the Lord
Jesus Christ.
We give God thanks all way for you all making mention of you in
our prayers with out ceasing, and call to remembrance your work in
the faith, and labour in love and perseverance in the hope of our
Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of God our father: because we know
brethren beloved of God how that you are elect. For our Gospell came
not unto you in word only, but also in power, and also in the holy
ghost and in much certainty, as you know after what manner we
behaved ourselves among you, for your sakes. And you became
followers of us and of the Lord, and received the word in much
affliction, with joy of the holy ghost: so that you were an example
to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded
out the word of the Lord, not in Macedonia and in Achaia only: but
your faith also which you have unto God, spread herself abroad in
all quarters, so greatly that it needs not us to speak anything at
all. For they them selves show of you what manner of entering in we
had unto you and how you turned to God from images, for to serve the
living and true God, and for to look for his son from heaven, whom
he raised from death: I mean Jesus which delivers us from wrath to
come.
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The 2nd
Chapter
For you yourselves know brethren of our entrance in unto you,
how that it was not in vain: but even after that we had suffered
before and were shamefully entreated at Philippos (as you well know)
then were we bold in our God to speak unto you the Gospell of God,
with much striving. Our exhortation was not to bring you to error,
nor yet to uncleanness, neither was it with guile: but as we were
allowed of God, that the Gospell should be committed unto us: even
so we speak, not as though we intended to please men, but God, which
trys our hearts.
Neither was our conversation at any time with flattering words,
as you well know neither in cloaked covetousness, God is record:
neither sought we praise of men, neither of you, nor yet of any
other, when we might have been chargable, as the Apostles of Christ
but were tender among you, even as a nurse cherishes her children,
so was our affection toward you: our good will was to have dealt
unto you, not the Gospell of God only, but also our own souls,
because you were dear unto us.
Yes remember brethren our labour, and travail. For we laboured day
and night because we would not be grievous unto any of you, and
preached unto you the Gospell of God. you are witnesses, and so is
God, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves
among you that believe: as you know how that we exhorted and
comforted and besought every one of you, as a father his children,
that you would walk worthy of God, which has called you unto his
kingdom and glory.
For this cause thank we God without ceasing, because that when
you received of us the word wherewith God was preached, you received
it not as the word of man: but even as it was in deed, the word of
God, which works in you that believe. For you brethren became
followers of the congregations of God which in Jewry are in Christ *Jesu:
For you have suffered like things of your kinsmen, as we our selves
have suffered of the Jewes. Which as they killed the Lord Jesus and
their own Prophets, even so have they persecuted us: and God they
please not, and are contrary to all men and forbid us to preach unto
the Gentiles, that they might be saved, to fulfil their sins all
way. For the wrath of God is come on them, even to the utmost.
For as much brethren as we are kept from you for a season, as
concerning the bodily presence, but not in the heart, we enforced
the more to see you personally with great desire. And therefore we
would have come unto you, I Paul once and again: but Satan withstood
us. For what is our hope or joy, or crown of rejoicing? are not you
it in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? yes you
are our glory and joy.
*Jesu;
exact spelling: Hebrew for Jesus |
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The 3rd
Chapter
Wherefore since we could no longer forbear, it pleased us to
remain at Athens alone, and sent Timotheus our brother and minister
of God, and our labour fellow in the Gospell of Christ, to establish
you and to comfort you over your faith, that no man should be moved
in these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are even
appointed there unto. For verily when I was with you, I told you
before that we should suffer tribulation, even as it came to pass,
and as you know. For this cause when I could no longer forbear, I
sent, that I might have knowledge of your faith, least haply the
tempter had tempted you, and that our labour had been bestowed in
vain.
But now lately when Timotheus came from you unto us, and
declared to us your faith and your love and how that you have good
remembrance of us always, desiring to see us as we desire to see
you. Therefore brethren we had consolation in you, in all our
adversity and necessity, through your faith. For now are we alive,
if you stand steadfast in the Lord. For what thanks can we
recompense to God again for you, over all the joy that we joy for
your sakes before our God: while we, night and day pray exceedingly
that we might see you presently, and might fulfil that which is
lacking in your faith.
God himself our father, and our Lord Jesus Christ guide our
journey unto you: and the Lord increase you and make you flow over
in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward
you, to make your hearts stable and unblamable, in holiness before
God our father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, with all his
saints.
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The 4th
Chapter
Furthermore we beseech you brethren, and exhort you in the Lord
Jesus, that you increase more and more, even as you have received of
us, how you ought to walk and to please God. you remember what
commandments we gave you in our Lord *Jesu Christ. For this is the
will of God, even that you should be holy, and that you should
abstain from fornication, that every one of you should know how to
keep his vessel in holiness and honour, and not in the lust of
*concupiscence, as do the heathen which know not God, that no man go
too far and defraud his brother in bargaining: because the Lord is
avenger of all such things, as we told you beforetime and testified.
For God has not called us unto uncleanness: but unto holiness. He
therefore that despises, despises not man, but God, which has sent
his holy spirit among you.
*concupiscence: strong desire; lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes,
pride of goods.
But as touching brotherly love you need not that I write unto
you. For you are taught of God to love one another. you and that
thing verily you do unto all the brethren which are throughout all
Macedonia. We beseech you brethren that you increase more and more,
and that you study to be quiet, and to meddle with your own business
and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you: that you may
behave your selves honestly toward them that are without, and that
nothing be lacking unto you.
I would not brethren have you ignorant concerning them which
are fallen asleep, that you sorrow not as other do which have no
hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again: even so them
also which sleep by Jesus, will God bring again with him. And this
say we unto you in the word of the Lord, that we which live and are
remaining in the coming of the Lord, shall not come *yer they which
sleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout
and the voice of the Archangel and trumpet of God. And the dead in
Christ shall arise first: then shall we which live and remain, be
caught up with them also in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.
And so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort yourselves
one another with these words.
*concupiscence: strong desire; lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes,
pride of goods. *Jesu: Hebrew for Jesus *yer (before) |
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The 5th Chapter
Of the times and seasons
brethren ye have no need that I write unto you: for ye yourselves
know perfectly, that the day of the Lord shall come even as a thief
in the night. When they shall say peace and no danger then cometh on
them sudden destruction, as the travailing of a woman with child,
and they shall not escape. But ye brethren are not in darkness,
that, that day should come on you as it were a thief.
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day.
We are not of the night neither of darkness.
Therefore let us not sleep as do other: but let us watch and
be sober. For they that sleep, sleep in the night: and they that be
drunken, are drunken in the night. But let us which are of the day,
be sober, armed with the breast plate of faith and love, and with
hope of salvation as an helmet. For God hath not appointed us unto
wrath: but to obtain salvation by the means of our Lord *Jesu Christ
which died for us: that whether we wake or sleep, we should live
together with him.
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another,
even as ye do.
We beseech you brethren, that ye know them which labour among
you and have the oversight of you in the Lord and give you
exhortation, that ye have them the more in love, for their works
sake, and be at peace with them.
We desire you brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the
feeble minded, forbear the weak, have continual patience toward all
men. See that none recompense evil for evil unto any man: but ever
follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
Rejoice ever. Pray continually. In all things give thanks. For this
is the will of God in Christ Jesu toward you.
Quench not the spirit. Despise not prophesying. Examine all
things, and keep that which is good. Abstain from all suspicious
things. The very God of peace sanctify you through out. And I pray
God that your whole spirit, soul and body, be kept faultless unto
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he which called
you: which will also do it. Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the
brethren with an holy kiss. I charge you in the Lord, that this
epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. The grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
*Jesu: Hebrew for
Jesus
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