Introduction

1 To the Thessalonian church in union with God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, From Paul, Silas, and Timothy. 2 May God, the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and give you peace.

The Apostle and his Converts

3 Friends, it is our duty always to thank God about you, as is but right, considering the wonderful growth of your faith, and because, without exception, your love for one another is continually increasing. 4 So much is this the case that we ourselves speak with pride, before the churches of God, of the patience and faith which you have shown, in spite of all the persecutions and troubles that you are enduring. 5 These persecutions will vindicate the justice of God’s judgment, and will result in your being reckoned worthy of God’s kingdom, for the sake of which you are now suffering; 6 since God deems it just to inflict suffering on those who are now inflicting suffering on you, 7 and to give relief to you who are suffering, as well as to us, at the appearing of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire. 8 Then he will inflict punishment on those who refuse to know God, and on those who turn a deaf ear to the good news of Jesus, our Lord. 9 They will pay the penalty of unutterable ruin – banished from the presence of the Lord and from the glorious manifestation of his might, 10 when he comes to be honoured in his people, and to be revered in all who have learned to believe in him (for you also believed our testimony) – as he will be on that day. 11 With this in view, our constant prayer for you is that our God may count you worthy of the call that you have received, and by his power make perfect your delight in all goodness and the efforts that have resulted from your faith. 12 Then, in the loving kindness of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ, will the name of Jesus, our Lord, be honoured in you, and you in him.

Events that must precede the Lord’s Coming

2 As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our being gathered to meet him, we beg you, friends, 2 not lightly to let your minds become unsettled or disturbed by any revelation, or by any message or letter purporting to come from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For it will not come before the final rebellion against God, when lawlessness is revealed in human form, headed for destruction. 4 He is the adversary of everything that is spoken of as a god or as an object of worship, enthroning himself in God”s Temple claiming to be God! 5 Don’t you remember how, when I was with you, I used to speak to you of all this? 6 And you know now what the restraining influence is which prevents his appearing before his appointed time. 7 Wickedness, indeed, is already at work in secret, but only until he who at present restrains it is removed out of the way. 8 Then the lawless person will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his mouth, annihilate him by the splendour of his coming. 9 When the lawless person comes, there will be great activity on the part of Satan, in the form of all kinds of deceptive miracles, signs, and marvels, as well as of wicked attempts to delude – 10 to the ruin of those who are on the path to destruction, because they have never received and loved the truth to their own salvation. 11 That is why God places them under the influence of a delusion, to cause them to believe a lie; 12 so that sentence may be passed on all those who refuse to believe the truth, but delight in wickedness.Titleless Section Break

13 But, friends, whom the Lord loves, it is our duty always to thank God about you, for, from the first, God chose you for salvation through the purifying influence of the Spirit, and your belief in the truth. 14 To this you were called by the good news which we brought you, to attain to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Stand firm then, friends, and hold fast to the truths that we taught you, whether by word or by letter. 16 And may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and, in his loving kindness, gave us unfailing consolation and good ground for hope, 17 console your hearts, and strengthen you to do and to say all that is right.

Conclusion

3 In conclusion, friends, pray for us – pray that the Lord’s message may spread rapidly, and be received everywhere with honour, as it was among you; 2 and that we may be preserved from wrong-headed and wicked people – for it is not everyone who believes in Christ. 3 But the Lord will not fail you. He will give you strength, and guard you from evil. 4 Yes, and the confidence that our union with the Lord enables us to place in you leads us to believe that you are doing, and will do, what we direct you. 5 May the Lord bring you to the love of God, and to the patience of the Christ.Titleless Section Break

6 We beg you, friends, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to avoid any follower who is living an ill-ordered life, which is not in agreement with the teaching that you received from us. 7 For you know well that you ought to follow our example. When we were with you, our life was not ill-ordered, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it. Night and day, labouring and toiling, we used to work at our trades, so as not to be a burden on any of you. 9 This was not because we had not a right to receive support, but our object was to give you a pattern for you to copy. 10 Indeed, when we were with you, the rule we laid down was – “Whoever does not choose to work will not get to eat.” 11 We hear that there are among you people who are living ill-ordered lives, and who, instead of attending to their own business, are mere busybodies. 12 All such people we beg, and implore, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to attend quietly to their business, and earn their own living. 13 You, friends, must not grow weary of doing what is right. 14 If anyone disregards what we have said in this letter, take note of them and avoid their company, so that they may feel ashamed. 15 Yet do not think of them as an enemy, but caution them as you would a brother or sister. 16 May the Lord, from whom all peace comes, himself give you his peace at all times and in all ways. May he be with you all.Titleless Section Break

17 I, Paul, add this greeting in my own handwriting. It is my signature to every letter. This is how I write. 18 May the blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.