Paul, Silvanus and Timothy. Unto the congregation of the Thessalonians, in God the father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with you, and peace from God our father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

but as we were allowed of God, that the gospel should be committed unto us: even so we speak, not as though we intended to please men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

Ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail. For we laboured day and night, because we would not be grievous unto any of you, and preached unto you the gospel of God.

and forbid us to preach unto the gentiles, that they might be saved, to fulfill their sins always: For the wrath of God is come on them, even to the utmost.

that no man should be moved in these afflictions. For ye yourselves know that we are even appointed thereunto.

to make your hearts that they might be stable and unblamable in holiness before God our father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, with all his saints.

For this is the will of God, even that ye should be holy, and that ye should abstain from fornication,

and that ye study to be quiet, and to meddle with your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you:

that ye may behave yourselves honestly toward them that are without and that nothing be lacking unto you.

For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again: even so them also which sleep by Jesus, will God bring again with him.

then shall we which live and remain, be caught up with them also in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Therefore let us not sleep as do others: but let us watch and be sober.

For they that sleep, sleep in the night: and they that be drunken, are drunken in the night.

But let us which are of the day be sober, armed with the breast plate of faith and love, and with hope of salvation as a helmet.

For God hath not appointed us unto wrath: but to obtain salvation by the means of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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

The very God of peace sanctify you throughout. And I pray God that your whole spirit, soul, and body, be kept faultless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I charge you in the Lord, that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. {The end of the First Epistle unto the Thessalonians, Sent from Athens.}