AICNT 1TH book

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:[fn] Grace to you and peace [[from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ]].[fn]

2 We always give thanks to God for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers [[unceasingly]],[fn] 3 remembering your work of faith and labor of love and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father, 4 knowing, beloved brothers and sisters, loved by 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][fn] much assurance, just as you know what kind of men we became [among][fn] you for your sake.

6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, receiving the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became {an example}[fn] referring to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything.

9 For they themselves report about us what kind of reception we had among you, and how you 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, Jesus who rescues us from the coming wrath.

2 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain, 2 but [[also]][fn] having suffered and been mistreated, as you know, in Philippi, we had the courage in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much struggle.

3 For our exhortation was not from error, nor from impurity, nor in deceit, 4 but just as we have been tested by God to be entrusted with the good news, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.

5 For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor a pretext for greed — God is witness — 6 nor seeking glory from men, neither from you nor from others, 7 though we could have been a burden as apostles of Christ, but we became {infants}[fn] among you. Just as a nurse cherishes her own children.

8 In this way, longing for you, we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own souls, because you became beloved to us.

9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil; [[For]][fn] working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

10 You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you believers; 11 just as you know how we were exhorting and comforting and testifying to each one of you, as a father would his own children, 12 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of God who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

13 And for this reason we also give thanks to God unceasingly, for when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe.

14 For you became imitators, brothers, of the churches of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus, because you suffered {the same}[fn] things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and {the}[fn] prophets, and drove us out, and displease God, and oppose all men, 16 hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But [[God's]][fn] wrath has come upon them at last.

17 But we, brothers, being separated from you for a short time, in presence not in heart, were all the more eager to see your face with great desire. 18 {Because}[fn] we wanted to come to you, I, Paul, both once and twice, but Satan hindered us.

19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of boasting? Is it not even you, before our Lord Jesus [[Christ]][fn] at his coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.

3 Therefore, no longer able to bear it, we decided to be left behind in Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and {co-worker}[fn] of God [[and our fellow worker]][fn] in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 4 Indeed, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we were going to be afflicted, just as it happened, and you know.

5 For this reason, I could no longer bear it and sent to know your faith, lest somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

6 But now, having come to us from you, Timothy has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good memories of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you. 7 For this reason, we were comforted, brothers, in you in all our distress and affliction through your faith. 8 For now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord. 9 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, 10 night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face and complete what is lacking in your faith?

11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus [[Christ]],[fn] direct our way to you;

12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we also do for you, 13 to strengthen your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus [[Christ]][fn] with all his holy ones [amen].[fn]

4 Finally then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, [that][fn] as you received from us how you ought to walk and please God, just as you are walking, that you do so more and more.

2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.

7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore, the one who disregards this does not disregard a man, but God, who [also][fn] gives His Holy Spirit to {you}.[fn]

9 Now concerning brotherly love, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for indeed you do this to all the brothers [who are] throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your [own][fn] hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

13 But {we}[fn] do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, about those who {are asleep},[fn] so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.

15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.[fn]

5 Concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need for anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know precisely that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.

3 When they say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they shall not escape.

4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that the day would overtake you like a thief; 5 [for][fn] you are all 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 others do, but let us stay awake and be sober.

7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.

9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus [Christ],[fn] 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.

11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

12 Now we ask you, brothers, to recognize those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.

14 We urge you, brothers, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

15 See that no one repays evil for evil, but always pursue what is good [and][fn] for one another and for all.

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

20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast to what is good.

23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, who will also do it.

27 I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the [[holy]][fn] brothers.

1:1, Christ: The Greek word for Christ means (1) fulfiller of Israelite expectation of a deliverer, the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Christ, (2) the personal name ascribed to Jesus, Christ. (BDAG, Χριστός)

1:1, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Later manuscripts add. BYZ TR

1:2, unceasingly: Absent from some manuscripts. BYZ TR

1:5, in: NA28[] SBLGNT THGNT BYZ TR. ‖ Absent from some manuscripts. N(01) B(03)

1:5, among: NA28[] SBLGNT THGNT BYZ TR. ‖ Absent from some manuscripts. N(01) A(02) C(04)

1:7, an example: Later manuscripts read “examples.” BYZ TR

2:2, also: Later manuscripts add. TR

2:7, infants: NA28 ‖ Some manuscripts read “gentile.” SGLGNT THGNT BYZ TR

2:9, For: Later manuscripts add. BYZ TR

2:14, the same: Later manuscripts read “these.” BYZ TR

2:15, the: Later manuscripts read “their own.” BYZ TR

2:16, God's: Some manuscripts include. D(05)

2:18, Because: Later manuscripts read “Therefore.” BYZ TR

2:19, Christ: Later manuscripts add. TR

3:2, co-worker: Later manuscripts read “servant.” BYZ TR

3:2, and our fellow worker: Later manuscripts add. BYZ TR

3:11, Christ: Later manuscripts add. BYZ TR

3:13, Christ: Later manuscripts add. BYZ TR

3:13, Amen: NA28[] ‖ Absent from some manuscripts. SBLGNT THGNT BYZ TR

4:1, that: Absent from some manuscripts.

4:8, also: NA28[] SBLGNT THGNT BYZ TR ‖ Absent from some manuscripts. A(02) B(03)

4:8, you: Later manuscripts read “us.” TR

4:11, own: NA28[] BYZ TR ‖ Absent from some manuscripts. SBLGNT THGNT

4:13, we: Later manuscripts read “I.” TR

4:13, are asleep: Later manuscripts read “have fallen asleep.” BYZ TR

4:15-17, Matthew 24:30-31, Mark 13:26-27, Luke 21:27-28

5:5, for: Absent from some manuscripts. BYZ TR

5:9, Christ: Absent from some manuscripts, including P30 B(03).

5:15, and: NA28[] THGNT BYZ TR ‖ Absent from some manuscripts. SBLGNT N(01) A(02) D(05)

5:25, also: NA28[] ‖ Absent from some manuscripts. SBLGNT THGNT BYZ TR

5:27, holy: Later manuscripts add. BYZ TR

5:28, Amen: NA28 SBLGNT ‖ Some manuscripts include. THGNT BYZ TR

5:28 , Later manuscripts add. TR