Going to Jesus

1Thessalonians

1Thessalonians 1

¶1. Paul, and Silvanus and Timothy. To the Assembly of Thessalonians, in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

¶2. We always give thanks to God for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,

3.ever remembering before our God and Father your work of faith, and labor of love, and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ,

4.knowing, brothers beloved of God, your election,

5.for our gospel did not come to you in word only but also in power, and in the holy Spirit, and in full assurance (you know what manner of men we were among you, for your sakes).

6. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, receiving the word amid much persecution, with the holy Spirit’s joy,

7.so that you became examples to all who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.

8. For from you, the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place has your faith toward God gone forth, so that there is no need for us to say anything.

9. For they, themselves, spread the report about us, as to what kind of reception we had with you, and how you turned from idols to God, to become slaves to the living and true God

10.and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised up from the dead – Jesus, our Deliverer from the coming wrath.

1Thessalonians 2

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¶1. You yourselves know, brothers, that our entrance among you was not in vain,

2.but even after we had suffered and been shamefully treated in Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the face of much opposition.

3. For our exhortation was not based on error, nor uncleanness, nor yet was it deceitful;

4.on the contrary, as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who tries our hearts.

5. Neither at any time were we found with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed – God is witness! –

6.neither were we looking for honor from men, whether from you or from others, when we could have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

7. Rather, we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

8. So, having that kind of longing for you, we delight in imparting to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives because you have become dear to us.

9. For you remember, brothers, our toil and effort, that working night and day so as not to overburden any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

10. You and God are witnesses, how devoutly, and uprightly, and blamelessly we lived among you who believe.

11. As you know, with each one of you, we were like a father with his children, exhorting and encouraging you,

12.and testifying that you should walk worthy of the God who has called you into His kingdom and glory.

¶13. And for this reason also, we constantly give thanks to God, that in receiving the word of God heard from us, you received it not as men’s word but, as it truly is, God’s word, who is also working in you who believe.

14. For you, brothers, have become followers of the Assemblies of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus, for you have also suffered things at the hands of your own countrymen, as they have at the hands of the Jews,

15.who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out, and do not please God, and are contrary to all men,

16.forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles so that they might be saved, thus they always fill up the measure of their sins. But the wrath of God has finally overtaken them.

¶17. But as for us, brothers, like orphans torn away from you for a short time (in person not in heart), we made every effort, with great earnestness, to see your face.

18. We wanted to come to you, I, Paul, once and again, but Satan hindered us.

19. For who is our hope, or joy, or crown of boasting? Is it not you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?

20. You are our glory and joy.

1Thessalonians 3

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¶1. Therefore, when we could bear it no longer, we thought it best to be left at Athens alone,

2.and so we sent Timothy our brother, and a minister of God, and our fellow-worker in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,

3.so that no one be shaken by these afflictions, for you know that we are appointed to this.

4. For even when we were with you, we told you ahead of time that we were about to suffer persecution, even as it has happened, and as you know.

5. And for this reason, when I could no longer bear it, I sent to know your faith, lest somehow the Tempter had tempted you, and our labor be for nothing.

6. But now, Timothy has come to us from you, bringing us the good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, longing to see us, just as also we long to see you.

7. Therefore, brothers, by your faith, we were comforted concerning you in spite of all our affliction and distress.

8. For now we live if you stand fast in the Lord.

9. For what thanks can we give to God concerning you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God because of you,

10.night and day praying most earnestly to see your face and to perfect the things lacking in your faith?

¶11. May our God and Father, Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our path toward you,

12.and may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow in love toward one another and toward all men, just as we also do toward you,

13.so that your hearts may be established, blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

1Thessalonians 4

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¶1. Finally now, brothers, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that as you received from us how you ought to live and please God, you would abound all the more.

2. You know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

3. This is the will of God, your sanctification, that you refrain from immorality,

4.each of you knowing how to take a wife for himself in sanctification and honor,

5.not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God,

6.and that no one transgress and take advantage of his brother in business, for the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.

7. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but to holiness.

8. Wherefore then, he who despises you, despises not man but God, who gave you His holy Spirit.

¶9. Now concerning brotherly affection, you have no need for me to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another,

10.and, indeed, you do this to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. And we exhort you, brothers, to abound all the more,

11.and consider it honorable to live peaceably, to manage your own affairs, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,

12.so that you may walk uprightly before outsiders and are dependent on no one.

¶13. Brothers, we would not have you ignorant concerning those who fall asleep, so that you do not grieve as others do, who have no hope.

14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also those who have fallen asleep in Jesus will God take away with him.

15. Now, we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who sleep.

16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

17. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them among the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so, we shall ever be with the Lord.

18. So then, encourage one another with these words.

1Thessalonians 5

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¶1. Now, concerning the times and seasons, brothers, you have no need for me to write to you,

2.for you yourselves know perfectly well that the Day of the Lord is coming like a thief in the night.

3. When they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction shall come upon them like labor pains on her who is with child, and they shall not escape.

4. But as for you, brothers, you are not in darkness that that day should overtake you like a thief,

5.for all of you are sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

6. So then, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us be alert and sober.

7. For those who sleep, sleep in the night, and those who get drunk, get drunk in the night.

8. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.

9. For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

10.who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep, we might live together with him.

11. Wherefore, comfort one another and edify each other, just as you are doing.

¶12. We beseech you, brothers, to acknowledge those who labor among you, and who rule over you in the Lord and admonish you,

13.and to esteem them as highly as possible in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

14. And we exhort you, brothers, warn the disorderly, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.

15. See that no one repays evil for evil to anyone; rather, always pursue what is good, both for one another and for all men.

16. Rejoice always;

17.pray continually;

18.in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

19. Do not quench the Spirit;

20.do not despise prophecies,

21.but prove all things; hold fast to what is good;

22.abstain from every form of evil.

¶23. And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24. He who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.

¶25. Brothers, pray for us.

¶26. Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

27. I adjure you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy brothers.

¶28. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.