1 Thessalonians

Note: This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public. Some things (like capitalisation of ‘him’ referring to Jesus or ‘father’ referring to God) in the RV haven’t been decided yet so we’re still testing both ways.

Note: The Readers’ Version on the left is a translation into contemporary English aimed at the person on the street who hasn’t necessarily been brought up with exposure to Biblical jargon and/or 500-year old English. It’s designed to be used alongside the Literal Version on the right which gives the English reader a window into what’s actually written in the original languages. (See the introduction for more details—we recommend that you read the introduction first if you’re wanting to fully understand the Literal Version.) By comparing the left and right columns, you should be able to easily get the message of the text, while at the same time keeping an eye on what it was actually translated from.

Note that greyed words in the RV are words that the translators consider were most probably in the mind of the writer, but as none of us can double-check with the original speakers or writers, the reader is free to disagree. They are clearly marked because we’ve tried to be as honest and transparent as possible.

The lighter coloured words in the LV are words which aren’t needed in the grammar of the original languages but are required or implied in English. You can read the Key to learn more about them. The underlines joining words in the LV show when one original language word needs to be translated into two or more English words. (Just hide them with the button if you don’t need that information and find it distracting.) Also, the majority of sentences in the LV don’t have the words put into a sensible English order yet. (This should be completed by the end of 2023.)

The bold words in the OET New Testament are words that the original writers or copyists marked to indicate that they considered them to refer to God. (Sadly, this information is not displayed in most Bible translations, especially since it seems to confirm that the earliest writers/copyists considered both Jesus and the Holy Spirit to be God.)

This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.

It is our prayer that the Open English Translation of the Bible will give you a clear understanding of the accounts and messages written by the God-inspired Biblical writers.

Readers’ Version

Literal Version

Greetings from Paul; Salutation

1 [ref]This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy.

The Life and Faith of the Thessalonians; The Faith of the Thessalonian Believers; Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ Faith; The Thessalonians’ Faith and Example

It’s written to the assembly of believers in God the father and the master Yeshua Messiah there in Thessalonica.

May God give his grace and peace to all of you.

1  Paulos, and Silouanos, and Timotheos, to_the assembly of_the_ones_from_Thessalonikaʸ in god the_father and the_master Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) chosen_one /messiah: grace to_you_all and peace.

1:2 Paul praises the believers

2 We here are always thanking God for all of you and remembering you in our prayers—always 3 remembering before our God and father about your striving for the faith and the labour of love and the endurance of the hope in our master Yeshua Messiah. 4 Brothers and sisters, we know that you’re all loved by God—the one who chose you. 5 The good message that we brought wasn’t just any old message, but also comes in the holy spirit with power and with full assurance of its truth. You know how we lived among you because of our concern for you all, 6 [ref]and then you all imitated both us and the master after receiving the message in tribulation with a lot of excitement about the holy spirit—7 so much so that you all became examples to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 So now the message of the master has been heard not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place where your faith towards God has been seen—so that now we don’t even need to say anything. 9 They’ve been reporting back to us about kindly we were accepted by you all and how you all turned from idols to God, to serve the living and true God 10 and waiting for his son, Yeshua to return from the heavens. Yeshua is the one that he brought back to life and who rescues us from God’s severe anger which is coming.

2 We_are_giving_thanks to_ the _god always concerning all of_you, remembrance making in the prayers of_us, unceasingly 3 remembering of_you_all about_the work of_ the _faith, and the labour of_ the _love, and the endurance of_ the _hope of_the master of_us, Yaʸsous chosen_one /messiah, before the god and father of_us, 4 having_known, brothers having_been_loved by the god, the choice of_you_all, 5 because the good_message of_us not was_become to you_all in message only, but also in power, and in the_spirit holy, and full_assurance much, as you_all_have_known such_as we_were_become you_all because_of you_all.

6 And you_all imitators of_us were_become and of_the master, having_received the message in tribulation much with the_joy of_the_spirit holy, 7 so_as to_become you_all examples to_all the ones believing in the Makedonia and in the Aⱪaia.

8 From for you_all has_been_sounded_out the message of_the master, not only in the Makedonia and in the Aⱪaia, but in every place the faith of_you_all which toward the god has_come_out, so_as no need to_be_having us to_be_speaking anything.

9 For/Because they concerning us are_reporting what_kind entrance we_had to you_all, and how you_all_turned_back to the god from the idols, to_be_serving for_the_god living and true, 10 and to_be_waiting for_the son of_him from the heavens, whom he_raised from the dead, Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa), the one rescuing us from the severe_anger which coming.

2:1 Paul recalls his visit to Thessalonica

Paul remembers his visit to Thessalonica; Paul’s Work in Thessalonica; Paul and the church at Thessalonica; Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

2 Brothers and sisters, you yourselves know that our going to Thessalonica wasn’t wasted, 2 [ref]but after previously suffering and being mistreated in Philippi, we spoke boldly at your place with God’s help, to tell you all the good message from God despite a lot of opposition there. 3 As we recommend a change in your lifestyles, we don’t do it with deception or impurity or deceit, 4 but since God has approved us and entrusted the good message to us, that’s what we talk about. We don’t aim to bring pleasure to people, but rather to bring them to God—the one who approves our inner motives. 5 As you all know, we never once came with a message of flattery, nor did we come under any pretenses (God is our witness) trying to get anything from you, 6 nor did we try to earn respect from people—neither from you all nor from anyone else 7 even though we could request support as ambassadors of Messiah. But we became unsophisticated among you, just like children, or like a breast-feeding mother who cherishes her own children. 8 So in longing for you all like that, we were happy to share with you all—not only the good message from God, but also exposing our own lives because you all became dear to us. 9 Brothers and sisters, you’re remembering our work and the hardship that we endured, working day and night so that we wouldn’t burden any of you as we proclaimed good message from God.

10 You’re all witnesses, and God also, as to how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we were to the believers, 11 just as each one of you who’s a father to his own children has known 12 how to encourage and to console them. We testified to you so that you all would live lives worthy of God—the one who invited you into his kingdom and to share his honour.

13 We also never stop thanking God that when you accepted God’s message that you heard from us, it wasn’t a message from humans, but truly was a message from God who is working in all of you who believed. 14 [ref]Brothers and sisters, you became imitators of the other assemblies of God in Yudea which are founded on Messiah Yeshua. You all suffered the same things from your own countrymen that the strict Jews did to them. 15 [ref]They executed their own prophets as well as the master Yeshua. They drove us out, displeasing God and contrary to all people—16 forbidding us from telling non-Jews that they need to be saved so that they stay in their sins, but God’s severe anger will finish them off.

↑ 2  For/Because yourselves you_all_have_known, brothers, the entrance of_us which to you_all, that not vain it_has_become, 2 but having_previously_suffered and having_been_mistreated, as you_all_have_known, in Filippou we_spoke_boldly in the god of_us, to_speak to you_all the good_message of_ the _god among much struggle.

3 For/Because the exhortation of_us not of deception, nor of impurity, nor in deceit, 4 but as we_have_been_approved by the god, to_be_entrusted the good_message, thus we_are_speaking, not as to_people bringing_pleasure, but to_god, the one approving the hearts of_us.

5 For/Because neither once with message of_flattery we_were_become, as you_all_have_known, nor with a_under_pretense for_greediness (god is witness) 6 nor seeking from people glory, neither from you_all, nor from others, 7 being_able in burden to_be, as of_chosen_one /messiah ambassadors.

But we_were_become infants in the_midst of_you_all, as if a_nursing_mother may_be_cherishing the of_herself children.

8 Thus longing for_you_all, we_were_taking_pleasure to_share with_you_all, not only the good_message of_ the _god, but also the of_ourselves lives, because beloved to_us you_all_were_become.

9 For/Because you_all_are_remembering, brothers, the labour of_us and the hardship, night and day working, in_order that not to_burden anyone of_you_all, we_proclaimed to you_all the good_message of_ the _god.

10 You_all are witnesses and the god, how devoutly, and justly, and blamelessly, to_you_all the ones believing we_were_become, 11 just_as you_all_have_known how one each of_you_all, as a_father to_children of_himself, 12 exhorting you_all, and consoling, and testifying, in_order that to_be_walking you_all worthily of_ the _god, the one having_called you_all into the of_himself kingdom and glory.

13 And because_of this also we are_giving_thanks to_ the _god unceasingly that having_received the_message by_hearing from us of_ the _god, you_all_received not the_message of_humans, but as truly it_is, the_message of_god, which also is_working in you_all which believing.

14 For/Because you_all imitators were_become, brothers, of_the assemblies of_ the _god, which being in the Youdaia in chosen_one /messiah Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa), because the same things you_all_suffered, also you_all by your own fellow-countrymen, as also they did by the Youdaiōns, 15 who both the master having_killed_off Yaʸsous, and their prophets, and us having_driven_out, and to_god not bringing_pleasure, but to_all people of_contrary, 16 forbidding us to_the pagans to_speak, in_order_that they_may_be_saved, because/for which to_fulfill of_them the sins always.

But came on them the severe_anger to end.

2:17 Paul’s desire to visit Thessalonica again

Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians; Paul’s Desire to Visit Them Again; Paul’s Desire to Visit the Thessalonians Again; Timothy’s Good Report about the Church

17 But we, brothers and sisters, have been cut off from you for a while, but only physically and not in our hearts, in fact we long to see you even more. 18 We wanted to come and see you all—I, Paul, even tried twice to come—but Satan held us back. 19 Because who is it that encourages and pleases us and that we can brag about? Won’t it be you all there in front of our master Yeshua when he returns, 20 because you all make us both happy and proud.

3 [ref]When we could endure it no longer, we were happy to be left alone in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, who’s our brother and God’s servant in the messiah’s good message, so that he could strengthen you all and encourage you in your faith 3 so that no one will be upset by these difficulties because you all know that God has appointed us for those. 4 Also, when we were with you all previously, we told you that we were going to be oppressed, and then it happened as you know. 5 So again when I could no longer endure it, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith, just in case you’d been tempted by the tempter and then our work there would have been wasted.

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

6 [ref]But now Timothy’s returned here to us, telling us the good news about your faith and love, and how you’re always mentioning good things about us and wanting to see us, just like we’d like to see all of you. 7 So even in our distress and sufferings, we’re comforted by your faith, brothers and sisters 8 because now we can live happily since you’re all standing firm in Yahweh. 9 We’re not able to repay God for the thankfulness that we have about you, because we are certainly thrilled in God’s presence because of you all.

10 Day and night we’re strongly requesting God that we’ll be able to go and see you all again, and to teach anything that’s lacking in your faith, 11 and that God our father himself and our master Yeshua might show us how we could get to you all.

12 May the master increase your numbers and give you all an excess of love towards each other and toward everyone, just like we also have toward all of you, 13 in order to strengthen your faith and make you blameless and spotless before our father God, when our master Yeshua comes with all his holy people. May it be so.

17 But we, brothers, having_been_orphaned of you_all, because/for the_time of_an_hour, in_face not in_heart, more_abundantly we_were_earnest the face of_you_all to_see with great desire.

18 Because we_wanted to_come to you_all, I indeed Paulos, both once and twice, and hindered us the Satan/(Sāţān).

19 For/Because who is of_us the_hope or the_joy or the_crown of_boasting?

Or not are even you_all, before the master of_us, Yaʸsous, at the of_him coming?

20 For/Because you_all are the glory of_us, and the joy.

↑ 3  Therefore no_longer enduring, we_took_pleasure to_be_left in Athaʸnai alone, 2 and we_sent Timotheos, the brother of_us, and servant of_ the _god in the good_message of_the chosen_one /messiah, in_order that to_strengthen you_all and to_exhort, concerning the faith of_you_all, 3 that no_one to_be_being_disturbed by the tribulations these.

For/Because yourselves you_all_have_known that for this we_are_appointing.

4 For/Because also when with you_all we_were, we_were_previously_saying to_you_all that we_are_going to_be_being_oppressed, as also it_became and you_all_have_known.

5 Because_of this also_I no_longer enduring, I_sent in_order that to_know the faith of_you_all, lest somehow tempted you_all the one tempting, and in vain may_become the labour of_us.

6 But now having_come Timotheos to us from you_all, and having_good_message_preached to_us about_the faith and the love of_you_all, and that you_all_are_having a_mentioning of_us good always, longing us to_see, just_as also we you_all.

7 Because_of this we_were_comforted, brothers, by you_all in all the hardship and tribulation of_us, through the of_you_all faith.

8 Because now we_are_living, if you_all are_standing_firm in the_master.

9 For/Because what thanksgiving we_are_being_able to_the to_god to_repay concerning you_all, because/for all the joy that we_are_rejoicing because_of you_all, before the god of_us.

10 Night and day, beyond_exceedingly beseeching in_order that to_see of_you_all the face, and to_prepare the lacking things in_the faith of_you_all?

11 And himself the god and father of_us, and the master of_us, Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa), might_direct the way of_us to you_all.

12 And you_all the master might_be_plentiful and might_be_plentiful the in_love toward one_another, and toward all, just_as also we toward you_all, 13 in_order that to_strengthen of_you_all the hearts, blameless in holiness before the god and father of_us, at the coming of_the master of_us, Yaʸsous, with all the holy ones of_him.

Truly.

4:1 Living to please God

Live to Please God; A Life That Pleases God; A Life Pleasing to God; Christian conduct; Living to Please God

4 So finally, brothers and sisters, you learnt from us about how to live in a way that pleases God as indeed you are. Now we are requesting you all, and we’re instructing you from the master Yeshua to do this even more, 2 because you all know the instructions that we gave to you through the master Yeshua. 3 Because this is God’s will: that you all stay holy, keeping away from all sexual immorality, 4 knowing that each of your bodies is like a container that you can fill with holiness and honour. 5 Don’t fill them with lustful passions like those who don’t know God, 6 nor going beyond lusts and exploiting your fellow believers, because Yahweh is the one who avenges all those things as we’ve told you before and testified to you all. 7 God has not called us to impurity but to holiness, 8 so whoever rejects this is not rejecting a human but rejecting God—the one who gives his holy spirit to you all.

9 Then concerning brotherly love, you don’t need me to write about that because you yourselves have been taught by God to be loving each other 10 and because you’re all already doing it to the believers all over Macedonia. But we advise you, brothers and sisters to do it even more 11 and to make it your ambition to live quietly and to look after your own selves. Work with your own hands as we instructed you, 12 so that you have a good attitude towards non-believers and so that you don’t have any outstanding needs.

↑ 4  Therefore finally, brothers, we_are_asking you_all and we_are_exhorting in the_master Yaʸsous, as you_all_received from us, which how it_is_fitting you_all to_be_walking and to_be_bringing_pleasure to_god (as even you_all_are_walking), in_order_that you_all_may_be_being_plentiful more.

2 For/Because you_all_have_known what_all charges we_gave to_you_all through the master Yaʸsous.

3 For/Because this is the_will of_ the _god, the holiness of_you_all, to_be_keeping_away you_all from the sexual_immorality, 4 to_have_known each of_you_all the of_himself vessel, to_be_acquiring in holiness and honour, 5 not in the_passion of_lust, just_as also the pagans which not having_known the god, 6 which not to_be_going_beyond and to_be_exploiting in the matter the brother of_him, because avenging is the_master concerning all these things, as also we_previously_said to_you_all and we_testified.

7 For/Because not called us the god to impurity, but in holiness.

8 So_then the one rejecting this, not a_human is_rejecting, but the god, the one giving the spirit of_him the holy to you_all.

9 And concerning the brotherly_love, no need you_all_are_having for_me to_be_writing to_you_all, because/for yourselves you_all god-taught are, in_order that to_be_loving one_another.

10 For/Because also you_all_are_doing it toward all the brothers, who are in all the Makedonia.

But we_are_exhorting you_all, brothers, to_be_being_plentiful more, 11 and to_be_being_ambitious to_be_living_quietly and to_be_doing your own things, and to_be_working with_your own hands of_you_all, as to_you_all we_commanded, 12 in_order_that you_all_may_be_walking properly toward the ones outside, and of_nothing need you_all_may_be_having.

4:13 The master’s return

The Lord’s Coming; The Hope of the Resurrection; Christ’s return; The Coming of the Lord

13 But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers and sisters, about those who’ve died so that you won’t mourn like others who don’t have any hope, 14 because if we believe that Yeshua died and came back to life, then we can also believe that when he returns, Yeshua will be bringing with him those who have died. 15 [ref]So this is what we’re saying in Yahweh’s message: those who are still living when the master returns, we certainly won’t precede those who’ve already died 16 because there’ll be an announcement from the archangel and God’s trumpet will sound and then the master will come down from heaven with a loud shout. The dead believers in Messiah will come to life again first, 17 then we who are still alive will be pulled up into the clouds together with them to meet the master in the air, and from then will always remain with Yahweh. 18 So when someone dies, comfort each other with those truths.

Be Ready for the Lord’s Coming

5 Concerning the times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you don’t need anything to be written 2 [ref]because you already know that Yahweh’s day will come like a thief comes at night. 3 Just when they’re saying there’s peace and security, then they’ll suddenly recognise the imminent destruction, like a pregnant woman having birth pains. They certainly won’t be able to escape, 4 but you, brothers and sisters, aren’t in darkness and likely to get surprised by a thief in the night 5 because you’re all children of the light and of the day. No, we’re not part of the night or of the darkness 6 so as a result, we won’t be sleeping like the others, but we’ll be alert and sober. 7 Those who sleep do it at night, and those who get drunk do it at night, 8 [ref]but we belong to the day. We’ll be dressed in the armour of faith and love, and the helmet which is the hope of our salvation. 9 God hasn’t assigned us to his severe anger, but rather for obtaining salvation through our master Yeshua Messiah—10 the one who was executed on our behalf so that whether we might be alert and watching, or whether we’re dead and ‘sleeping’, either way we’ll all live together with him. 11 So comfort and encourage each other as you’ve all been doing already.

13 Not but we_are_wanting you_all to_be_not_knowing, brothers, concerning the ones being_fallen_asleep, in_order_that not you_all _may_be_being_sorrowed, as also the rest, the ones not having hope.

14 For/Because if we_are_believing that Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) died_off and rose_up, thus also the god the ones having_been_fallen_asleep through the Yaʸsous will_be_bringing with him.

15 For/Because this to_you_all we_are_saying in the_message of_the_master, that we the ones living, which being_remaining to the coming of_the master, by_no_means not may_precede the ones having_been_fallen_asleep.

16 Because himself the master with a_loud_command, with the_voice of_an_archangel, and with the_trumpet of_god, will_be_coming_down from heaven, and the dead in chosen_one /messiah will_be_rising_up first, 17 then we the ones living, which being_remaining together with them, will_be_being_snatched in the_clouds for the_meeting of_the master in the_air, and thus always with the_master we_will_be.

18 So_then be_comforting one_another with the messages these.

↑ 5  And concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, no need you_all_are_having to_you_all to_be_being_written.

2 For/Because yourselves exactly you_all_have_known that the_day of_the_master, as a_thief by night thus is_coming.

3 Whenever they_may_be_saying: Peace and security, then sudden is_recognizing to_them destruction, as the birth_pains to_the woman in pregnant having a_child, and by_no_means not they_may_escape.

4 But you_all, brothers, not are in darkness, in_order_that the day you_all like thieves may_grasp.

5 For/Because all you_all sons of_light are, and sons of_day.

Neither we_are of_night nor of_darkness.

6 Therefore consequently not we_may_be_sleeping as the rest, but we_may_be_watching and we_may_be_being_sober.

7 For/Because the ones sleeping, by_night are_sleeping, and the ones being_drunk, by_night are_being_drunk.

8 But we of_the_day being, may_be_being_sober, having_dressed_in the_breastplate of_faith and love, and the_helmet, the_hope of_salvation.

9 Because not appointed the god us for severe_anger, but for procuring of_salvation through the master of_us, Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) chosen_one /messiah, 10 the one having_died_off for us, in_order_that whether we_may_be_watching or we_may_be_sleeping, together with him we_may_live.

11 Therefore be_comforting one_another, and be_building one the one, as also you_all_are_doing.

5:12 Final teaching and greetings

Paul’s Final Advice; Final Instructions and Greetings; Final Exhortations, Greetings, and Benediction

12 But we’re asking you, brothers and sisters, to be aware of the people who are working among you all and the ones leading you in Yahweh and instructing you all, 13 and show them love over-and-beyond because of their work. Be at peace with each other.

14 We advise you, brothers and sisters, to scold those who are lazy, comfort those who are discouraged, help the weak up, and be patient towards everyone. 15 Don’t let anyone repay evil for evil, but always be doing what is good towards each other and towards everyone else.

16 Always find something to be happy about. 17 Never stop praying, 18 thanking God about everything.

This is what God wants for you in Messiah Yeshua: 19 Don’t smother the holy spirit. 20 Don’t scorn prophesies. 21 Evaluate everything, holding on to what’s good 22 but keeping away from everything that seems to be evil.

Paul’s Final Greetings

23 May the God of peace himself make you completely holy and may your entire spirits, souls, and bodies be kept irreproachable at the returning of our master Yeshua Messiah. 24 The one calling you all is faithful and he will also see it through.