All has been created through him and for him. He was before all things, and all things unite in him;

Because in him it was considered good for all the fullness dwell,

And God purposed through Him to reconcile the universe to Himself, making peace through His blood, which was shed upon the Cross--to reconcile to Himself through Him, I say, things on earth and things in Heaven.

so as to set you consecrated and unblemished and irreproachable in his presence ??23 that is, if you adhere to the foundations and stability of the faith, instead of moving away from the hope you have learned in the gospel, that gospel which has been preached to every creature under heaven, and of which I Paul was made a minister.

If ye truly continue in the faith, founded, and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the good-news that ye heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, of which I Paul became a helper.

Now I rejoice in [spite of] my sufferings for your sake, and I am filling up [i.e., completing] in my physical body what was lacking in the afflictions Christ endured for His body's sake, the church.

In this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship which God entrusted to me for your sake, so that I might make the word of God fully known [among you]—

that is, the mystery which was hidden [from angels and mankind] for ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His saints (God’s people).

God [in His eternal plan] chose to make known to them how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in and among you, the hope and guarantee of [realizing the] glory.

I want you to know how much I am struggling for you [Note: This probably refers to the great effort Paul was exerting in prayer, preaching, etc.], and for those at Laodicia [Note: This was a town ten miles west of Colosse], and for all those who have never met me in person.

By your union with him you received a circumcision that was not performed by human hands, when you threw off the tyranny of the earthly body, and received the circumcision of the Christ.

which were buried (as Christ was) in your baptism, by virtue of which you rise (as he did) to a new life, through a belief of that divine power, which raised him from the dead.

having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of legal demands [which were in force] against us and which were hostile to us. And this certificate He has set aside and completely removed by nailing it to the cross.

These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is the Messiah.

[In this state] there cannot be [such distinctions as] Greek [i.e., Gentile] and Jew; circumcised people and non-circumcised people; barbarian and Scythian [Note: These last two words refer to foreigners whose language was unintelligible and who were uncivilized heathens], or slave and free person; but Christ is all [that is important] and [He is] in all [of His people].

And let the peace of Christ be ruling in your hearts, as it was the purpose of God for you to be one body; and give praise to God at all times.

Women, place yourselves under your own husbands, as was permitted in the Lord.

Praying together also for us, that God would open to us a door of the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, by which also I was bound;

This greeting [is being written] by me, Paul, in my own handwriting. Remember my imprisonment. [Note: This was probably a request for them to pray for him]. May God's favor be with you.

[This letter is from] Paul, and Silvanus and Timothy, [and is being sent] to the church of the Thessalonians [Note: This was a town in present-day northeastern Greece] in [fellowship with] God, the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May God's unearned favor and peace be upon you.

Because our good news came to you, not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Spirit, so that you were completely certain of it; even as you saw what our behaviour to you was like from our love to you.

For not only was the word of the Lord sounding out from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God is made clear; so that we have no need to say anything.

how successful our arrival was among you, and how you renounc'd your idols to serve the living and true God,

For you know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you has not been ineffective (fruitless, in vain),

But after we had first undergone much pain and been cruelly attacked as you saw, at Philippi, by the help of God we gave you the good news without fear, though everything was against us.

For my preaching was not grounded on a delusion, or on impure motives, on in deceit.

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.

our address to you was without any flattery, as you yourselves can witness, and God is witness that we had no avarice to disguise.

Now was I seeking glory from men, either yourselves or others, although I might have exercised authority as Christ's apostle.

So in my fond affection it was my joy to give you, not only the gospel of God, but my very life also, because you had become dear to me.

You are witnesses, and so is God, how unworldly and just and blameless was our behavior toward you who believe [in our Lord Jesus Christ].

You know how I was wont to treat each of you as a father treats his children,

And, for this cause, we, are also giving thanks unto God unceasingly, that, when ye received a spoken word from us - which was God's, ye welcomed it - not as a human word, but, even as it truly is, a divine word, - which is also inwardly working itself in you who believe.

As for ourselves, Brothers, our having been bereaved of you even for a short time--though in body only, and not in spirit--made us all the more eager to see your faces again; and the longing to do so was strong upon us.

For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again [wanted to come], but Satan hindered us.

At last our desire to have news of you was so strong that, while we ourselves were waiting at Athens,

For even when I was with you I used to tell you beforehand that I was to suffer affliction; and so it proved, as you know.

Because of this, I too, no longer covering over it, sent in order to know your faith, lest somehow he who tempts was tempting you, and our labor became in vain.

But now when Timotheus was come to us from you, and had brought us the good tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, as we also to see you:

then, amid all my own distress and trouble, I was cheered ??this faith of yours encouraged me.

For you certainly do practice it toward all the brothers [and sisters] throughout Macedonia. [Note: This was the province in which Thessalonica was located]. Yet we urge you, brothers, to continue doing it more and more.

[We also urge you to] make it your aim to live a quiet life, and to attend to your own business matters, and to work with your hands, as we urged you. [Note: Possibly this exhortation was directed toward the tendency of some people there to neglect ordinary responsibilities in view of an imminent return of Christ].

For we say this to you by [the authority of] the word of the Lord [Note: Paul was either quoting what Jesus had previously said, or was giving a revelation he had received from the Lord. See I Cor. 14:37], that we [Christians] who are [still] alive, who are left [on earth] when the Lord returns, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. [Note: The point Paul is making is that the living will not be "changed" (I Cor. 15:51-52) and taken to heaven before the dead are raised].

Who was put to death for us, so that, awake or sleeping, we may have a part in his life.

when he comes to be glorified in his sanctified, and to be marveled in that day by all those who believe (because our testimony among you was believed).

that ye be not hastily agitated with apprehension, nor troubled, neither by spirit, nor by discourse, nor by letter, as coming from us, as though the day of the Lord was instantly approaching.

the adversary of every being that is called a god or an object of worship, and so overbearing toward them as to enter God's sanctuary and take his seat there, proclaiming himself to be God??5 do you not remember that when I was with you, I used to tell you this?

Do you not remember that while I was with you I used to tell you this?

But it is right for us to give praise to God at all times for you, brothers, loved by the Lord, because it was the purpose of God from the first that you might have salvation, being made holy by the Spirit and by faith in what is true:

It was to this end that He called you through our gospel [the good news of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection], so that you may obtain and share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, brothers, pray for us that the Lord’s message may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you,

And may the Lord direct your hearts to love [people] as God does, and to be steadfast as Christ was.

You know yourselves how you ought to follow my example; for I was not a shirker when I was with you;

Not that I have no right to such support; it was simply to give you an example for you to imitate.

For when I was with you, I gave you this direction, "If a person refuses to work, he must not be allowed to eat."

As I begged you to do when I was on my way to Macedonia, I still beg you to stay on in Ephesus to warn certain teachers

Now we know [without any doubt] that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully and appropriately,

it being plain, that the law was not design'd against the just, but against the lawless and refractory, against irreligion and vice, impiety and prophaneness, parricide and man-slaughter,

according to the good-news of the glory of the blessed God, of which I was entrusted.

though I once used to abuse, persecute, and insult Him. But mercy was shown me by Him, because I did it in ignorance and unbelief,

And the grace of our Lord was filled to overflowing with the faith and love in Christ Jesus.

Yet, mercy was shown me for the very purpose that in my case as the foremost of sinners Jesus might display His perfect patience, to make me an example to those who in the future might believe on Him to obtain eternal life.

This, then, is the charge that I lay upon you, Timothy, my Child, in accordance with what was predicted of you--Fight the good fight in the spirit of those predictions,

holding on to [your] faith and a good conscience. Some people have rejected these things, resulting in the "shipwreck" of their faith [i.e., their spiritual life was ruined].

who gave Himself as a ransom for all, a fact that was testified to at the proper time,

and for which purpose I was appointed a preacher and an apostle -- I am telling the truth, I am not lying, -- a teacher of the heathen in the realm of faith and truth.

For Adam was formed first, and then Eve;

and it was not Adam who was deceived, but it was the woman who was utterly deceived and fell into transgression.

Similarly, deacons should be serious-minded [i.e., dignified], not saying one thing while meaning another, not drinking a lot of wine [Note: The wine of Paul's day was used as a common drink, and was either non-intoxicating or far less intoxicating than wine today], not wanting to get money by questionable [or, dishonest] means.

Undoubtedly the mystery of our religion is a great wonder: "He was made visible in human form; He was vindicated by the Spirit; He was seen by angels; He was proclaimed among the heathen; He was trusted in throughout the world; He was taken up to glory."

Stop neglecting the gift you received, which was given you through prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you.

Let no widow be chosen under sixty years old, and such a one as was the wife of one man,

Be contesting the noble contest of the faith, - lay hold of the age-abiding life - unto which thou wast called, and didst make the noble confession before many witnesses.

Remembering how you cried [Note: This was probably when Paul and Timothy last parted], I long to see you [again], so that I can be filled with joy.

Having in mind your true faith, which first was in your mother's mother Lois, and in your mother Eunice, and, I am certain, is now in you.

The reason I am reminding you [of these things] is so that you will rekindle the gift from God, which is in your life through the laying on my hands. [Note: This "gift" was probably his ordination to serve as an evangelist (See 4:1-5), and in addition, may have included a supernatural "spiritual gift" bestowed by the apostle Paul].

For the Spirit which God gave us was not a spirit of cowardice, but a spirit of power, love, and self-control.

For He saved us and called us with a holy call, not in accordance with anything that we had done, but in accordance with His own purpose and unmerited favor which was shown us through union with Christ Jesus eternal ages ago,

and was made manifest now through the manifestation of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who indeed did abolish death, and did enlighten life and immortality through the good news,

for which I was appointed a herald, and an apostle, and a teacher of Gentiles.

That good thing which was given to you keep safe, through the Holy Spirit which is in us.

May the Lord show mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, because he often cheered me and was not ashamed of the chains I wore.

But when he was in Rome, he went in search of me everywhere, and came to me

the Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord on that [great] day. You know very well how many things he did for me and what a help he was at Ephesus [you know better than I can tell you].

Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

wherein I suffer trouble as an evil doer, even unto bonds. But the word of God was not bound.

But they will not make any more progress, for their folly will be evident to everybody, as theirs was.

and how I was persecuted and suffered in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.

And thou -- be remaining in the things which thou didst learn and wast entrusted with, having known from whom thou didst learn,

But be on the watch for him, for he was violent in his attacks on our teaching.

In my first defence none was present with me, but all forsook me; (may it not be reckoned to them.)

But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that the message preached by me might have its full effect and all the heathen might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's jaws.

Erastus was stopping at Corinth; but Trophimus, when I last saw him was at Miletus, ill.

The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. {The end of the Second Epistle unto Timothy, Written from Rome, when Paul was presented the second time up before the Emperor Nero}

In the hope of eternal life, which was made certain before eternal time, by the word of God who is ever true;

but in his own times he made known his word by preaching, which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior,

I did not take you with me when I went away from Crete, so that you might do what was necessary to put things in order there, placing men in authority over the churches in every town, as I said to you;

and a man who continues to cling to the trustworthy message as he was taught it, so that he may be competent to encourage others with wholesome teaching and to convict those who oppose him.

One being of themselves, which was a poet of their own said, "The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and slow bellies."

Everything is pure [i.e., ceremonially acceptable] to the person who is pure [i.e., who has been cleansed by the blood of Christ], but to those who are [spiritually] corrupt, and do not believe [in Christ], nothing is pure, but both their minds and consciences are corrupted. [Note: This statement was intended to remove the physical restrictions imposed by the law of Moses].