Paul and Silas and Timothy. To the church of the Thessalonians which is in God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be to you, and peace.

For others, of their own accord, tell about the welcome I had from you, and how you turned to God from your idols, to be slaved of a true and living God,

But as my fitness to be entrusted with the gospel has been tested and approved by God, I so speak, not to please men, but to please God, who is testing my motives.

And so, when I could no longer bear it, I made up my mind to be left behind at Athens, all alone.

So that no one should be shaken by these troubles??or you know well that we are appointed to troubles.

It is not needed that I should write to you about brotherly love; for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.

So that your conduct may be seemly toward those that are without, and that you may not need help from any man.

For this I tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are living, who survive unto the coming of the Lord, will in no wise precede those who have fallen asleep.

And afterwards we who are alive, who remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Now as to the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you.

So then let us not be sleeping as do the rest, but let us be watchful and self-controlled.

But let us who are of the day be self-controlled, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.

He died for us, in order that whether we are keeping vigil in life or sleeping in death we may ever be living together with him.

Always be joyful.

May the God of peace consecrate you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept altogether faultless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.