GetPassageurn:cts:pbc:bible.parallel.eng.kingjames:52urn:cts:pbc:bible.parallel.eng.kingjames:52Paul , 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 . We give thanks to God always for you all , making mention of you in our prayers ; 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 ; Knowing , brethren beloved , your election of God . 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 . And ye became followers of us , and of the Lord , having received the word in much affliction , with joy of the Holy Ghost : So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia . 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 . 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 ; And to wait for his Son from heaven , whom he raised from the dead , even Jesus , which delivered us from the wrath to come . For yourselves , brethren , know our entrance in unto you , that it was not in vain : 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 . For our exhortation was not of deceit , nor of uncleanness , nor in guile : 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 . For neither at any time used we flattering words , as ye know , nor a cloke of covetousness ; God is witness : Nor of men sought we glory , neither of you , nor yet of others , when we might have been burdensome , as the apostles of Christ . But we were gentle among you , even as a nurse cherisheth her children : 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 . 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 . Ye are witnesses , and God also , how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe : As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you , as a father doth his children , That ye would walk worthy of God , who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory . 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 . 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 : 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 : 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 . 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 . Wherefore we would have come unto you , even I Paul , once and again ; but Satan hindered us . 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 ? For ye are our glory and joy . Wherefore when we could no longer forbear , we thought it good to be left at Athens alone ; 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 : That no man should be moved by these afflictions : for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto . 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 . 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 . 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 : Therefore , brethren , we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith : For now we live , if ye stand fast in the Lord . For what thanks can we render to God again for you , for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God ; Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face , and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith ? Now God himself and our Father , and our Lord Jesus Christ , direct our way unto you . And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another , and toward all men , even as we do toward you : 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 . 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 . For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus . For this is the will of God , even your sanctification , that ye should abstain from fornication : That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour ; Not in the lust of concupiscence , even as the Gentiles which know not God : 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 . For God hath not called us unto uncleanness , but unto holiness . He therefore that despiseth , despiseth not man , but God , who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit . But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you : for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another . 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 ; And that ye study to be quiet , and to do your own business , and to work with your own hands , as we commanded you ; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without , and that ye may have lack of nothing . 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 . For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again , even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him . 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 . 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 : 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 . Wherefore comfort one another with these words . But of the times and the seasons , brethren , ye have no need that I write unto you . For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night . 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 . But ye , brethren , are not in darkness , that that day should overtake you as a thief . Ye are all the children of light , and the children of the day : we are not of the night , nor of darkness . Therefore let us not sleep , as do others ; 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 , who are of the day , be sober , putting on the breastplate of faith and love ; and for an helmet , the hope of salvation . For God hath not appointed us to wrath , but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ , Who 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 also ye do . And we beseech you , brethren , to know them which labour among you , and are over you in the Lord , and admonish you ; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake . And be at peace among yourselves . Now we exhort you , brethren , warn them that are unruly , comfort the feebleminded , support the weak , be patient toward all men . See that none render evil for evil unto any man ; but ever follow that which is good , both among yourselves , and to all men . Rejoice evermore . Pray without ceasing . In every thing give thanks : for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you . Quench not the Spirit . Despise not prophesyings . Prove all things ; hold fast that which is good . Abstain from all appearance of evil . 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 . Faithful is he that calleth you , who also will do it . Brethren , pray for us . Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss . I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren . The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you . Amen .