For ye know yourselves, brethren, our entering in which we had to you, that it has not been in vain;

But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

That was the kind of affection we had for you, which made us ready to share with you not only God's good news but our own lives too, because you were so dear to us.

to live lives [of honor, moral courage, and personal integrity] worthy of the God who [saves you and] calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

which as they killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, even so have they persecuted us, and God they please not, and are contrary to all men:

who by obstructing our endeavours to save the Gentiles, continue to fill up the measure of their enormities; for which consummate vengeance is falling upon them.

For which reason we made attempts to come to you, even I, Paul, once and again; but Satan kept us from coming.

For what is our hope or joy, or the crown of which we boast? Is it not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His Coming?

so that no one would be unsettled by these difficulties [to which I have referred]. For you know that we have been destined for this [as something unavoidable in our position].

for what thanks are we able to recompense to God for you, for all the joy with which we do joy because of you in the presence of our God?

Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

Finally, believers, we ask and admonish you in the Lord Jesus, that you follow the instruction that you received from us about how you ought to walk and please God (just as you are actually doing) and that you excel even more and more [pursuing a life of purpose and living in a way that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation].

For you know the commands which we laid upon you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, which hath sent his holy spirit among you.

And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

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

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

Then we which are alive and 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.

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.

which died for us: that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Faithful is he, which called you: which will also do it.

Paul, Silas, and Timothy: To the Church of the Thessalonians which is in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We must always thank God for you, brothers. This is right, since your faith is flourishing and the love each one of you has for one another is increasing.

so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which ye endure;

Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

and to you which are troubled, rest with us; when the Lord Jesus shall show himself from heaven, with his mighty angels,

which shall be punished with everlasting damnation, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power,

when He comes on that day to be glorified in His people and to be wondered at among all who have believed, including you--because you believed the testimony which we brought for your acceptance.

To which end we also pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfil every desire of goodness and every work of faith, with power;

that ye be not suddenly moved from your mind, and be not troubled; neither by spirit, neither by words, nor yet by letter, which should seem to come from us, as though the day of Christ were at hand.

Who puts himself against all authority, lifting himself up over all which is named God or is given worship; so that he takes his seat in the Temple of God, putting himself forward as God.

And now ye know that which restraineth, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season.

For the mystery of that iniquity doth he already work, which only looketh, till he be taken out of the way

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.

that all they might be damned which believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

to which He did call you through our good news, to the acquiring of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

but the Lord is faithful, which shall establish you, and keep you from evil.

And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

not, that we had no just claim, but to present ourselves as a pattern, which you should imitate,

For when we were with you, this we warned you of, that if there were any which would not work, that the same should not eat.

For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.

The Salutation of Paul, with my own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

But the goal of our instruction is love [which springs] from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

wanting to be teachers of the Law [of Moses], even though they do not understand the terms they use or the subjects about which they make [such] confident declarations.

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

for whoremongers, for sodomites, for stealers of men, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing which is contrary to sound doctrine,

According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord which hath made me strong: for he counted me true, and put me in office,

And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

It is a true saying, in which all may put their faith, that Christ Jesus came into the world to give salvation to sinners, of whom I am the chief:

Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

Of whose number is Hymenaeus, and Alexander, which I have delivered unto Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.

which will have all men saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and man, which is the man Christ Jesus,

Who gave himself as an offering for all; witness of which was to be given at the right time;

to which I have been appointed a herald and apostle, (I speak the truth, I do not lie,) a teacher of the nations in faith and truth.

So then I would have the men everywhere pray, lifting to God holy hands which are unstained with anger or strife;

But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

and devilish doctrine of them which speak false through hypocrisy, and have their consciences marked with a hot iron,

Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

Because everything which God has made is good, and nothing is evil, if it is taken with praise:

If thou put the brethren in mind of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which thou hast followed until now :

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

This is a true saying, in which all may put their faith.

For therefore we labour and suffer rebuke, because we believe in the living God, which is the saviour of all men: but specially of those that believe.

Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

Honour widows which are true widows.

Those are the points on which you should dwell, that there may be no call for your censure.

and well reported of in good works: if she have nourished children, if she have been liberal to strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have ministered unto them which were in adversity, if she were continually given unto all manner good works.

for which they are much to be condemn'd, because they violate the engagements they had before enter'd into:

And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

The elders that rule well are worthy of double honour, most specially they which labour in the word and in teaching.

In the same way, there are good works which are clearly seen; and those which are not so, may not be kept secret.

See that they which have believing masters despise them not because they are brethren: but so much the rather do service, forasmuch as they are believing and beloved and partakers of the benefits. These things teach and exhort.

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but sick about questions and disputes of words, out of which arise envy, strife, injurious words, evil suspicions,

and vain disputations of men with corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, which think that lucre is godliness. From such, separate thyself.

But godliness actually is a source of great gain when accompanied by contentment [that contentment which comes from a sense of inner confidence based on the sufficiency of God].

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

But as for you, O man of God, flee from these things; aim at and pursue righteousness [true goodness, moral conformity to the character of God], godliness [the fear of God], faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness.