The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ [be] with your spirit.

Because of this also we, from the day we heard about [it], did not cease praying for you, and asking that you may be filled [with] the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual insight,

because all [things] in the heavens and on the earth were created by him, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers, all [things] were created through him and for him,

and through him to reconcile all [things] to himself, [by] making peace through the blood of his cross, through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

but now you have been reconciled by {his physical body} through death, to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,

whom we proclaim, [by] admonishing every person and teaching every person with all wisdom, in order that we may present every person mature in Christ,

so that their hearts may be encouraged, united in love and into all the wealth of the full assurance of insight into the knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ,

in whom also you were circumcised with a circumcision not made by hands, by the removal of the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,

having destroyed the certificate of indebtedness in ordinances against us, which was hostile to us, and removed it out of the way [by] nailing it to the cross.

[When he] had disarmed the rulers and the authorities, he made a display of [them] in public, triumphing over them by it.

Let no one condemn you, taking pleasure in humility and the worship of angels, going into detail [about] [the things] which he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,

and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by the ligaments and sinews, grows with the growth of God.

which [things] are all [meant] for destruction by consuming according to human commandments and teachings,

which [things] {although they have}, to be sure, an appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and humility and unsparing treatment of the body, {do not have any value} against the indulgence of the flesh.

When Christ, [who is] your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

And the peace of Christ must rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.

Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.

Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving,

Let your speech always [be] with grace, seasoned with salt, so that [you] may know how it is necessary for you to answer each one.

The greeting [is] by my hand, Paul's. Remember my {imprisonment}. Grace [be] with you.

knowing, brothers [dearly] loved by God, {that he has chosen you},

but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, thus we speak, not as pleasing people but God, who examines our hearts.

For you remember, brothers, our labor and hardship: working by night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles in order that they may be saved, so that [they] always fill up their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the end.

But [when] we were made orphans by separation from you, brothers, for {a short time} (in face, not in heart), [we were] even more eager with great desire to see your face,

Therefore [when we] could bear [it] no longer, we determined to be left behind in Athens alone,

[so that] no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For [you] yourselves know that we are appointed for this,

for indeed when we were with you we told you beforehand that we were about to be afflicted, just as indeed it happened, and you know.

Because of this, I also, [when I] could endure [it] no longer, sent in order to know your faith, lest somehow the tempter tempted you and our labor should be in vain.

so that your hearts may be established blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

But concerning brotherly love, I do not have need to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another,

Now we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you will not grieve as also the rest, who have no hope.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain until the Lord's coming, will not possibly precede those who have fallen asleep.

Then we who are alive, who remain, will be snatched away at the same time together with them in the clouds for a meeting with the Lord in the air, and thus we will be together with the Lord always.

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need [of anything] to be written to you,

So then, we must not sleep like the rest, but must be on the alert and be self-controlled.

But [because] we are of the day, we must be sober, [by] putting on the breastplate of faith and love and [as] a helmet the hope of salvation,

and to esteem them beyond all measure in love, because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, console the discouraged, help the sick, be patient toward all [people].

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I adjure you by the Lord, have this letter read aloud to all the brothers.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you.

a proof of the righteous judgment of God, so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, on behalf of which also you are suffering,

since [it is] righteous in the sight of God to pay back those who are afflicting you with affliction,

who will pay the penalty [of] eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength,

whenever he should come to be glorified on that day by his saints and to be marveled at by all who believe, because our testimony was believed among you,

for which [purpose] we also pray always for you, that you may be considered worthy of the calling of our God, and he might fulfill every desire for goodness and work of faith with power,

in order that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

that you not be easily shaken from your composure, nor be troubled either by a spirit or by a message or by a letter {alleged to be from us}, to the effect that the day of the Lord has arrived.

And you know that which restrains [him] now, so that he will be revealed in his own time.

and then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of his mouth, and wipe out by the appearance of his coming,

and with every unrighteous deception against those who are perishing, in place of which they did not accept the love of the truth, so that they would be saved.

in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth, but delighted in unrighteousness.

But we ought to give thanks to God always concerning you, brothers [dearly] loved by the Lord, because God has chosen you [as] first fruits for salvation by the sanctification of the Spirit and faith in the truth,

So then, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions which you were taught, whether by [spoken] word or by letter from us.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given [us] eternal encouragement and good hope by grace,

Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may progress and be honored, just as also [it was] with you,

and that we may be delivered from evil and wicked people, {for not all have the faith}.

nor did we eat bread from anyone without paying, but with toil and labor, [we were] working night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you,

But [as for] you, brothers, do not be discouraged [while] doing what is right.

But if anyone does not obey our message through this letter, take note not to associate with him, in order that he may be put to shame.

Now may the Lord of peace himself grant you peace through everything in every way. [May] the Lord [be] with all of you.

The greeting [is] by my hand, Paul's, which is {a sign of genuineness} in every letter: {this is how I write}.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with all of you.

and not to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which cause useless speculations rather than God's plan [that is] by faith.

wanting to be teachers of the law, [although they] do not understand either [the things] which they are saying or [the things] concerning which they are speaking confidently.

Now to the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, to the only God, [be] honor and glory {forever and ever}. Amen.

I am setting before you this instruction, Timothy [my] child, in accordance with the prophecies spoken long ago about you, in order that by them you may fight the good fight,

among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, in order that they may be taught not to blaspheme.

Therefore, I urge first of all [that] petitions, prayers, requests, [and] thanksgiving be made on behalf of all people,

who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

But she will be saved through the bearing of children, if she continues in faith and love and holiness with self-control.

Therefore the overseer must be irreproachable, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, skillful in teaching,

Deacons likewise [must be] dignified, not insincere, not devoted to much wine, not fond of dishonest gain,

and these also must be tested first; then let them serve [if they] are above reproach.

The wives likewise [must be] dignified, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in all [things].

Deacons must be husbands of one wife, managing [their] children and their own households well.

And most certainly, great is the mystery of godliness: Who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the Gentiles, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

by the hypocrisy of liars, who are seared in their own conscience,

who forbid marrying [and insist on] abstaining from foods that God created for sharing in with thankfulness by those who believe and who know the truth,

because everything created by God [is] good and nothing [is to be] rejected [if it is] received with thankfulness,

for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

[By] teaching these [things] to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, trained in the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed faithfully.

But reject those {worthless myths told by elderly women}, and train yourself for godliness.

Let no one look down on your youth, but be an example for the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Until I come, pay attention to the [public] reading, to exhortation, to teaching.

Do not neglect the gift [that is] in you, that was granted to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.

Practice these [things]. Be [diligent] in these [things], in order that your progress may be evident to everyone.

Fix [your] attention on yourself and on your teaching. Continue in them, for [by] doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must learn to show profound respect for their own household first, and to pay back recompense to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

And command these [things], in order that they may be irreproachable.

Let a widow be put on the list [if she] is not less than sixty years [old], the wife of one husband,

being well-attested by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality, if she has washed the feet of the saints, if she has helped those who are oppressed, if she has devoted herself to every good work.

And at the same time also, going around from house to house, they learn [to be] idle, and not only idle, but also gossipy and busybodies, saying the things [that are] not necessary.

If any believing woman has widows, she must help them, and the church must not be burdened, in order that it may help those [who are] truly widows.

The elders who lead well must be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor by speaking and teaching.

Likewise also good works [are] evident, and those considered otherwise are not able to be hidden.

All those who are under the yoke as slaves must regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, lest the name of God and the teaching be slandered.

And those who have believing masters must not look down on [them] because they are brothers, but rather they must serve, because those who benefit by their service are believers and dearly loved.