not in the affection of desire, as also the nations that were not knowing God,

that no one should do wrong and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord takes vengeance for all such things, as we told you before and solemnly warned you.

Because it is God's purpose that our way of life may be not unclean but holy.

So that he who rejects this is not rejecting man, but the God who gave you his Holy Spirit.

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.

And, truly, you are lovers of all the brothers in Macedonia; but it is our desire that your love may be increased still more;

Also, that you endeavor to live quietly and to mind your own business, and to work with your hands (as I charged you).

so that you may live influentially with the outsiders, and not be dependent on anybody.

But we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, about those who are asleep, so that ye may not grieve, as also the others who have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then through Jesus, God will bring back with Him those who have fallen asleep.

For on the Lord's own authority we say that those of us who may be left behind and are still living when the Lord comes back, will have no advantage at all over those who have fallen asleep.

After that, we, the living who are left, together with them, shall be caught away, in clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: - and, thus, evermore, with the Lord, shall we be!

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

for you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the Lord is coming like a thief in the night.

As soon as they begin to say - Peace! and safety! then, suddenly, upon them, cometh destruction, - just as the birth-throe unto her that is with child, - and in nowise shall they escape.

But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that that day, like a thief, should take you by surprise;

For, they that sleep, by night, do sleep, and, they that drink, by night, do drink: -

For God has not destined us to [incur His] wrath [that is, He did not select us to condemn us], but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

who died for us, so that whether we still live or sleep we may live in fellowship with Him.

But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over 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.

And our desire is that you will keep control over those whose lives are not well ordered, giving comfort to the feeble-hearted, supporting those with little strength, and putting up with much from all.

Take care that none of you ever pays back evil for evil, but always keep looking for ways to show kindness to one another and everybody.

in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

But test all things carefully [so you can recognize what is good]. Hold firmly to that which is good.

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.

Faithful, is he that is calling you, - who, also will perform.

I adjure you by the Lord that the letter be read to all the holy brothers.

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians, that believe in God our father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

so that we are always boasting of you among the churches of God for your patient endurance and faith, in spite of your persecutions and crushing sorrows which you are enduring.

This is a positive proof of the righteous judgment of God [a sign of His fair verdict], so that you will be considered worthy of His kingdom, for which indeed you are suffering.

If, at least, it is a, righteous thing with God, to recompense, affliction, unto them that afflict you,

And, unto you that are afflicted, release, with us, - by the revealing of the Lord Jesus from heaven, with his messengers of power,

in a flame of fire, who will take vengeance on those who do not know God, that is, those who will not listen to the good news of our Lord Jesus.

these shall suffer punishment in that day, even eternal destruction, far from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power,

when on that day He comes to be glorified in His consecrated ones and to be admired by all who believe in Him because our testimony has been confidently accepted among you.

With this in view we are always praying for you too, that our God may make you worthy of His call, and by His power fully satisfy your every desire for goodness, and complete every activity of your faith,

so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you and you through union with Him, in accordance with the favor of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now we conjure you, brethren, that with respect to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our being assembled with him,

not to let your minds be easily unsettled or even be excited, whether by some message by the Spirit or by some saying or letter that is claimed as coming from me, saying that the day of the Lord is already here.

Do not let anybody at all deceive you about this, because that cannot take place until the great revolt occurs and the representative of lawlessness is uncovered, the one who is doomed to destruction,

the one who keeps up his opposition and so far exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, that he actually takes his seat in the sanctuary of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

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

So now you know the power that is holding him back, that he is to be unveiled at His own appointed time.

For, the secret, of lawlessness, already, is inwardly working itself, - only, until, he that restraineth at present, shall be gone, out of the midst:

And then will come the revelation of that evil one, whom the Lord Jesus will put to death with the breath of his mouth, and give to destruction by the revelation of his coming;

that is, the representative of lawlessness, whose coming is in accordance with the working of Satan, with his plenitude of power and pretended signs and wonders,

And with every deceit of wrongdoing among those whose fate is destruction; because they were quite without that love of the true faith by which they might have salvation.

For this reason God is sending on them an energy of delusion, that they should put faith in a falsehood;

so that all who have refused to believe the truth but have chosen unrighteousness instead might be condemned.

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:

and to this end He called you by our preaching of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that ye were taught, whether by word or by letter from us.

May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and graciously given us encouragement that is eternal, and a hope that is well-founded,

encourage you and strengthen you to do and say everything that is right.

Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the message of the Lord may continue to spread and prove its glorious power as it did among you,

and that we may be delivered from unprincipled and wicked men; for not all men have faith.

We have confidence in you through the Lord that you are now practicing the directions which we give you and that you will continue to do so.

Howbeit, we charge you, brethren, - that, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, ye be withdrawing yourselves from every brother - who, in a disorderly way, doth walk, and not according to the instruction which ye received from us.

For, ye yourselves, know, how needful it is to be imitating us, in that we were not disorderly among you,

I did not eat my food as a gift from any man, but in toil and travail, night and day, I worked, so that I might not be a burden to any of you.

Not that I have no right to be supported, but to make myself an example for you to follow.

For even when we were with you we commanded you this, that if any man will not work, neither let him eat.

But we are informed that some among you are living as shirkers, mere busybodies, instead of busy at work.

Now to such men we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that, working with quietness, they should eat their own bread.

If anyone refuses to obey what we have said in this letter, mark that person and stop having anything to do with him, so that he will feel ashamed of it.

I, Paul, write you this final greeting with my own hand. This is the distinguishing mark in every letter [of mine, that shows it is genuine]. It is the way I write [my handwriting and signature].

As I urged thee, while going to Macedonia, remain in Ephesis, so that thou might command certain men not to teach something different,

to stop devoting themselves to myths and never-ending pedigrees, for such things lead to controversies rather than stimulate our trusteeship to God through faith.

But the aim of your instruction is to be love that flows out of a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.

And it is because they have not aimed at these things that the attention of certain people has been diverted to unprofitable subjects.

desiring to be teachers of the law, neither understanding what they say nor that which they affirm.

Indeed, I know that the law is an excellent thing, if a man makes a lawful use of it;

that is, if he understands that law is not enacted for upright people but for the lawless and disorderly, the godless and sinful, the ignorant and profane, people who kill their fathers or mothers, murderers,

the immoral, men who practice sodomy, men who make other men their slaves, liars, perjurers, or anything else that is contrary to sound teaching,

based on the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was entrusted to me.

And I am thankful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has thus enabled me, that he accounted me faithful, and appointed me to his service,

one who was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief.

And the grace of our Lord overflowed with faith and love that is in Christ Jesus.

It is a saying to be trusted and deserves our fullest acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; and I am the foremost of them.

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 is the instruction which I entrust to you, my son Timothy, which is in accordance with the prophetic utterances formerly made about you, that you may, aided by them, continue to fight the good fight,

keeping your faith [leaning completely on God with absolute trust and confidence in His guidance] and having a good conscience; for some [people] have rejected [their moral compass] and have made a shipwreck of their faith.

Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have turned over to Satan to be so disciplined that they will stop their abusive speech.

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties, prayers, and thanksgiving be offered for all men,

for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead peaceful, quiet lives in perfect piety and seriousness.

For that is good and accepted in the sight of god our saviour,

whose will it is that all men should be saved, and come into full knowledge of the truth.

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

It was for this testimony that I myself was appointed a herald and apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), to be a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

My wish, then, is that in every place the men should offer prayer, lifting up holy hands, free from anger and disputation;

I want the women, on their part, to dress becomingly, that is, modestly and sensibly, not adorning themselves with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive dresses,

but with good works, as is proper for women who affirm that they worship God.

for Adam was the first that was form'd, then Eve.

He that aspires to be a bishop, desires an office that is honourable.

It is necessary therefore that a bishop should be blameless, a husband of one wife, circumspect, sober, well-behaved, hospitable, apt to teach,

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

Not one newly taken into the church, for fear that, through his high opinion of himself, he may come into the same sin as the Evil One.

And he is to have a good name among those outside the church, so that nothing may be said against him and he may not be taken by the designs of the Evil One.