10 you. They shall make known unto you all things that are done here. Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner saluteth you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (touching whom ye received commandments; if he come unto you, 11 receive him), and Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision: these only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, men that have 12 been a comfort unto me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a 'servant of Christ Jesus, saluteth you, always1 Gr. bondstriving for you in his prayers, that ye may stand servant. 13 perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. For I bear him witness, that he hath much labour for you, and for them in Laodicea, and for them in Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas salute you. 15 Salute the brethren that are in Laodicea, and 3 Nymphas, and the church that is in their house. The Greek 16 And when this epistle hath been read among you, may represent Nymcause that it be read also in the church of the Laodi-pha. ceans; and that ye also read the epistle from Laodicea. Some 17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry authorities which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou read her. fulfil it. 18 The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. ancient 4 Gr. the. THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE 1 Or, because our gospel &c. 2 Or, Holy Spirit • Or, fulness TO THE THESSALONIANS. PAUL, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church 11 of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for you all, making 2 mention of you in our prayers; remembering without 3 ceasing your work of faith and labour of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father; knowing, brethren beloved of God, 4 your election, 'how that our gospel came not unto 5 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 for your sake. And ye became imitators of us, and of 6 the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the 'Holy Ghost; so that ye became an 7 ensample to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia. For from you hath sounded forth the word 8 of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth; so that we need not to speak anything. For they 9 themselves report concerning us what manner of entering in we had unto you; and how ye turned unto God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and 10 to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivereth us from the wrath to come. For yourselves, brethren, know our entering in 12 unto you, that it hath not been found vain: but 2 having suffered before, and been shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we waxed bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God in much conflict. For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, 3 honour authorities 4 nor in guile: but even as we have been approved of God to be intrusted with the gospel, so we speak ; not as pleasing men, but God which proveth our 5 hearts. For neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetous6 ness, God is witness; nor seeking glory of men, neither from you, nor from others, when we might 7 have 'been burdensome, as apostles of Christ. But1Or,claimed we were 'gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse 2 Most of 8 cherisheth her own children: even so, being affectionate- the ancient ly desirous of you, we were well pleased to impart unto read babes. you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own 9 souls, because ye were become very dear to us. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: working night and day, that we might not burden any of 10 you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and righteously and unblameably we behaved ourselves toward you 11 that believe: as ye know how we dealt with each one of you, as a father with his own children, exhorting 12 you, and encouraging you, and testifying, to the end that should walk worthily of God, who calleth * Some into his own kingdom and glory. 13 ye you ancient authorities word of And for this cause we also thank God without read called ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of Gr. the the message, even the word of God, ye accepted it not hearing. as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of 14 God, which also worketh in you that believe. For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judæa in Christ Jesus: for ye also suffered the same things of your own countrymen, 15 even as they did of the Jews; who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drave out us, and 16 please not God, and are contrary to all men; forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins alway: but the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. 17 of an hour. But we, brethren, being bereaved of you for a 5 Gr.a season short season, in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more exceedingly to see your face with great 18 desire because we would fain have come unto you, I 1 Gr. pre sence. 2 Some ancient read fellow God. For 19 Paul once and again; and Satan hindered us. 20 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we 13 thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone; and sent Timothy, our brother and 'God's minister in 2 authorities the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort worker with you concerning your faith; that no man be moved 3 by these afflictions; for yourselves know that hereunto we are appointed. For verily, when we were 4 Or, plainly with you, we told you 3beforehand that we are to suffer affliction; even as it came to pass, and ye know. For this cause I also, when I could no longer for- 5 bear, sent that I might know your faith, lest by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labour should be in vain. But when Timothy came even 6 now unto us from you, and brought us glad tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, even as we also to see you; for this cause, brethren, we were 7 comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith: for now we live, if ye stand fast 8 in the Lord. For what thanksgiving can we render 9 again unto God for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; night and day 10 praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith? 4 Many ancient authorities Now may our God and Father himself, and our 11 Lord Jesus, direct our way unto you and the Lord 12 make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we also do toward you; to the end he may stablish your hearts 13 unblameable in holiness before our God and Father, at the 'coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.* Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you 14 add Amen. in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk, that ye abound more and more. • Gr. 5 For ye 2 know what charge we gave you through the Lord charges. Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctifi- 3 4 cation, that ye abstain from fornication; that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel 5 in sanctification and honour, not in the passion of 6 lust, even as the Gentiles which know not God; that no man 'transgress, and wrong his brother in the 1 Or, overmatter: because the Lord is an avenger in all these 7 things, as also we 'forewarned you and testified. For 2 Or, told God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. 8 Therefore he that rejecteth, rejecteth not man, but God, who giveth his Holy Spirit unto you. 9 reach you plainly But concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you: for ye yourselves are 10 taught of God to love one another; for indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, that ye abound more 11 and more; and that ye study to be quiet, and to Gr. be do your own business, and to work with your hands, 12 even as we charged you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and may have need of nothing. 13 ambitious. through. Jesus 5 Gr. pre But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even 14 as the rest, which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with Gr. 15 him. For this we say unto you by the word of the or, will God Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the through "coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them 16 that are fallen asleep. For the Lord himself shall sence. descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the 17 dead in Christ shall rise first: then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall 18 we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one • Or, exhort another with these words. 5 1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, 2 ye have no need that aught be written unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so 3 cometh as a thief in the night. When they are sayPeace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh |