To the Thessalonian Church in union with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. May God bless you and give you peace.

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

And you followed the pattern set you by us and by the Master, after you had received the Message amid severe persecution, and yet with the joy which the Holy Spirit gives,

For they themselves give the news of how we came among you; and how you were turned from images to God, to the worship of a true and living God,

But even as the good news was given to us by the approval of God, so we give it out; not as pleasing men, but God by whom our hearts are tested.

Seeing that we were thus drawn affectionately towards you, it would have been a joy to us to have imparted to you not only God's Good News, but to have given our very lives also, because you had become very dear to us.

So that your lives might be pleasing to God, who has given you a part in his kingdom and his glory.

And for this cause we also give thanks to God unceasingly that, having received the word of the report of God by us, ye accepted, not men's word, but, even as it is truly, God's word, which also works in you who believe.

We sent Timothy, our brother and God's servant in the good news of Christ, to give you strength and comfort in your faith;

[So], for this reason, when I could not stand it any longer, I also sent [Timothy] to find out about your faith. I was afraid that somehow the tempter [i.e., Satan] had tempted you [to give up] and that our work [on your behalf] will have become useless.

But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has given us good news of your faith and love, and that you have happy memories of us, desiring greatly to see us, even as we do to see you;

Thus, my brethren, your conduct has given us great consolation, under all our persecutions and distress.

For how great is the praise which we give to God for you, and how great the joy with which we are glad because of you before our God;

And the Lord give you increase of love in fullest measure to one another and to all men, even as our love to you;

He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

So then, give comfort to one another with these words.

When people say, "What peace and security!" then suddenly destruction will be upon them, like birth-pains upon a woman about to give birth to a child, and there will be no escape.

But you, believers, [all you who believe in Christ as Savior and acknowledge Him as God’s Son] are not in spiritual darkness [nor held by its power], that the day [of judgment] would overtake you [by surprise] like a thief;

Now we ask you, brothers, to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you,

and give you exhortation, that ye have them the more in love: For their work's sake, and be at peace with them.

We [earnestly] urge you, believers, admonish those who are out of line [the undisciplined, the unruly, the disorderly], encourage the timid [who lack spiritual courage], help the [spiritually] weak, be very patient with everyone [always controlling your temper].

Let no one give evil for evil; but ever go after what is good, for one another and for all.

never give up prayer,

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

And may God Himself who gives peace, make you entirely holy; and may your spirits, souls and bodies be preserved complete and be found blameless at the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Give all the brothers a holy kiss.

I give orders in the name of the Lord that all the brothers are to be present at the reading of this letter.