Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians, who believe in God the father, and in our Lord Jesus Christ. grace and peace be with you from God our father, and from Jesus Christ our Lord.

and to expect his son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivers us from impending ruin.

we preach the gospel just as God thought fit to intrust it with us, not being studious to please men, but God, who approves our sincerity.

we behav'd to you with a tender regard, even as a mother, who nurses her own children.

you are witnesses, and God is so too, how holy, how just and irreproachable our behaviour was to you, who believe.

conjuring you to live suitably to the favour of God, who has called you to his kingdom and glory.

nor do we fail of giving thanks to God continually, that, when you received the word of God, which we preach, you did not receive it as the doctrine of men, but as a doctrine that appears to be truly divine, by the influences it displays in you, who believe.

the very men who have persecuted the Lord Jesus, and the prophets even to death; who have persecuted us; they who are regardless of pleasing the deity, and are enemies to all mankind;

who by obstructing our endeavours to save the Gentiles, continue to fill up the measure of their enormities; for which consummate vengeance is falling upon them.

person unsullied by the vices of the Gentiles, who know not God:

he therefore that violates these precepts, does not despise man, but God, who has endued me with his holy spirit.

Now I would not have you, my brethren, be mistaken about the state of the dead, lest you should be as greatly afflicted as those, who have no hope.

for one thing I have in charge to tell you from the Lord, that we, who shall be found still alive at the coming of the Lord, shall not get the advance of those that are dead:

for the Lord himself will descend from heaven, and by the voice of the archangel, with the trumpet of God, resound the summons: they who died christians shall rise first:

then we, who shall be still alive, shall be convey'd together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall ever be with the Lord.

but let us, who enjoy the light, be temperate; let us be arm'd with the breast-plate of faith and charity, and for an helmet, with the hope of salvation.

for God did not design to make us the objects of his displeasure, but to effect our felicity by the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us,

We entreat you, brethren, to respect those, who labour in the ministry, who by divine appointment preside over you, and instruct you.