receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

CHAPTER IV.

I He exhorteth them to be fervent in prayer, 5 to walk wisely toward them that are not yet come to the true knowledge of Christ. 10 He saluteth them, and wisheth them all prosperity.

MAS

ASTERS, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye know how ye ought to answer may every man.

7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord:

8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;

9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.

1 Gr. receive again the wrong. 2 Gr. Lords. up the opportunity.

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shall receive again for the wrong that he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. 2Masters, render unto your 3servants that which is just and *equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

Continue stedfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanks3 giving withal praying for us also, that God may open unto us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am 4 also in bonds; that I may make

it manifest, as I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward them

that are without, redeeming the 6 time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one. 7 All my affairs shall Tychicus make known unto you, the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow-servant in the 8 Lord: whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that ye may know our estate, and that he may comfort your hearts; 9 together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things that are done here.

CHAPTER I.

I The Thessalonians are given to understand both how mindful of them Saint Paul was at all times in thanksgiving, and prayer: 5 and also how well he was persuaded of the truth and sincerity of their faith, and conversion to God.

PAUL, and Silvanus, and Timo

theus, 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.

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

3 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;

4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

5 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.

6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

7 So that ye were ensamples to 1Or, because our gospel &c.

1 PAUL, and Silvanus, and Tim

othy, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace..

2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making men3 tion of you in our prayers; re

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membering without ceasing your work of faith and labour of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and 4 Father knowing, brethren be5 loved of God, your election, 'how that our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; even as ye know what manner of men we shewed ourselves toward you 6 for your sake. And ye became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the 7 Holy Ghost; so that ye became an ensample to all that believe Or, Holy Spirit 3 Or, fulness

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all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to Godward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

9 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;

10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

CHAPTER II.

In what manner the gospel was brought and preached to the Thessalonians, and in what sort also they received it. 18 A reason is rendered both why Saint Paul was so long absent from them, and also why he was so desirous to see them.

FOR yo

OR yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:

2 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.

3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile :

4 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.

5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness:

6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

8 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.

9 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.

10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

II As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

13 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

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hearts. For neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness, God is witness; 6 nor seeking glory of men, neither from you, nor from others, when we might have been burden7 some, as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherisheth 8 her own children: even so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were well pleased to impart unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were become very dear 9 to us. For For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of 10 God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and righteously and unblameably we behaved ourselves toward you that be11 lieve: as ye know how we

dealt with each one of you, as a father with his own children, exhorting you, and encouraging you, and testifying, to the end 12 that ye should walk worthily of God, who calleth you into his own kingdom and glory.

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Some ancient authorities read