1 Thessalonians

1¹Paul, Silvanus and Timothy,
TO: the church of the Thessalonians, which is in God, the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace and peace be to you, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

²We always give thanks to God for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers, ³remembering, without ceasing, your work of faith, labor of love and patients of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God, (who is also) our Father, ⁴knowing, beloved brethren, your election (assurance verse 1:5; resurrection verse 4:14-18) of God.

⁵For our gospel didn't come to you in word only but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what (kind) of men we were among you for your sake. ⁶And you became [imitators] of us and the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, ⁷you were an example to all that believed in Macedonia and Achaia. ⁸For you [loudly proclaimed] the word of the Lord not in in macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God [has gone forth], so we needn't say anything. ⁹(Because, they themselves give testimony to your faith and how you turned from idols to God, to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰and to wait for His Son, Jesus, from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, and who delivered us from the wrath to come.

2¹(You) yourselves know, brethren, that our entrance in to you [has not proved fruitless]; ²even after we'd suffered before and were shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were (still) bold in our God to speak to you His gospel with much [conflict]. ³For our [good counsel] was not deceitful, nor of uncleanness or in guile; ⁴but we were allowed, by God, to be put in trust (of) the gospel, even so we speak; not to please men but God who tests our HEARTS. ⁵Not at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor, as God is our witness, did we [disguise or conceal] coveteousness; ⁶nor did we seek to be glorified by men, not of your or any others, when we might have (used our positions of authority)(being) the apostles of Christ. ⁷But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherishes her children. ⁸So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were [pleased] to have imparted to you the gospel of God and also our own souls because you were dear to us. ⁹(Because) you remember, (beloved), our labor and travail; laboring day and night because we wouldn't be [burdens of expense] to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. ¹⁰You and God are witness (of) how holily, justly and unblamably we behaved ourselves among you that believe, ¹¹Since you know how we (urged) and encouraged and charged everyone of you as a father does his children.¹²(so) you would walk worthy of God, who has called you to His kingdom and glory. ¹³For this (reason) also we thank God without ceasing because, when you received the word of God (from) us, you (accepted) it, not as the word of men but as it is, the truth, the word of God, which works effectually in all who believe. ¹⁴For you, (beloved), became (imitators0 of the [congregations] of God, which in Judea, are in Christ Jesus; for you've also suffered (similar) things from your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews, ¹⁵who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us, they don't please God and are [antagonistic] to all men, ¹⁶forbidding us to [tell] the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins always (my note: blind and stubborn the Jews filled up the amount (measure) of their sin using their treatment of Christ and the apostles as their measuring stick); for the wrath has come upon them to the [end].

¹⁷But we, beloved, being taken from you for a short time, (our physical) presence but not in our hearts, endeavored all the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. ¹⁸(So), we would've come to you, Paul and I, once again but satan hindered us. ¹⁹(Because) what is our hope, joy or crown of rejoicing (boasting, renown)? Aren't even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? ²⁰(Because) you are our glory and joy.

31(So), when we could no longer [endure], we thought it best to be left at Athens alone, ²and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, our fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to establish (ground; settle; validate) you and to comfort you concerning your faith, ³that no man should be moved (shaken; disturbed) by these afflictions (pressures; burdens; persecutions) for you know that we are appointed to these things (Endurance). ⁴(Because truthfully) when we were with you, we told you that we would suffer tribulation, even (while it was happening). ⁵(Because of this), when I could no longer (stand to wait), I sent to (check on) your faith, (in case) by some means the tempter has tempted you and our labor be (to no purpose). ⁶But now that Timothy has returned to us, bringing us the good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good memories of us and desire greatly to see us as we desire to see you; ⁷we are comforted by your faith, (beloved), in all our affliction and distress; ⁸for now we live, if we stand [firm] in the Lord. ⁹(With) all the joy with which we joy for your sakes before our God, what thanks can we render again for you, ¹⁰night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might (adjust; fit together; mend) that which is lacking in your faith? ¹¹Now God Himself, our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way to you. ¹²And the Lord make you to increase and abound in LOVE toward one another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you, ¹³to the end may He establish you (ground; settle; validate) your HEARTS unblamable in holiness before God, our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

4¹(Finally) then, we beseech you, (beloved), and (counsel) you by the Lord Jesus Chriat, since you've received the (teaching) for us on how you to walk and to please God, so you would (excell; increase) more and more. ²For you know what (charges; orders) we have you by the Lord Jesus. ³(Because) this is the will of God, even your [purity; holiness; belonging purely to God and Him only] that you should abstain from (adultry agains God); ⁴that everyone of you should know how to (control his body and (keep it holy unto God) in (respect); ⁵not in lust (passionate)(longing for what is forbidden), even as the (unbelievers) who don't know God; ⁶that no man (over step the limits) and (cheat; swindle; trick; dupe) his brother in any (thing) because the Lord is the avenger of all, as we've forewarned and testified to you. ⁷For God hasn't called us to uncleanness but to holiness. ⁸(So), he that despises (rejects) doesn't despise (reject) man but God, who has given to us His Holy Spirit. ⁹But because of your touching brotherly love, you don't need me to write this to you; for you yourselves are taught (by) God to love one another. ¹⁰Indeed, and you do it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. (However), we beseech you, (beloved), that you do it more and more, ¹¹and that you study to be quiet and (mind) your own business and to work with your own hands as we (taught) you, ¹²so you may walk honestly toward those that are (unbelievers) and that you'll have lack of nothing.

¹³But I wouldn't have you be ignorant, (beloved), concerning those who (have died), you shouldn't sorrow as those who have no hope. ¹⁴For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then even those who've (died) God will, through Jesus, bring with Him. ¹⁵(Because) this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain to the coming of the Lord will not (go before) those who've (died). ¹⁶For the Lord Himself will (come down) from heaven with a shout, with a voice of an archangel, and with a trump of God; and the dead in Christ (believers) will rise first; ¹⁷then those of us who are alive and remain will be caught up together in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and will (forever) be with the Lord. ¹⁸(So) comfort one another with these words.

5¹(Concerning) the (proper) time and (occasion), (beloved), you have no need that I write to you. ²(as) you yourselves know perfectl that the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night. ³(Because) when they say, "Peace and Saftey", sudden destruction will come on them, (like, the pain of woman giving birth) and they will not escape. ⁴(However), (beloved), you are not (walking) in darkness, so tht day over takes you as a thief. ⁵You are sons of light and day (life); we are not of the night or darkness (death). ⁶(So) lets not (slumber) as others do but be watchful and (not in a drunken-like state). ⁷(Because) those that (slumber) do so at night and those that are drunk are drunk at night. ⁸(However), let us who are of the day (life), be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and LOVE (Ephesians 6:14) and the helmet of the hope of salvation. ⁹(Because) God hasn't (set us aside)(for punishment) but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰who died for us, so whether (in death or in life) we should live together with Him.

¹¹(So), together, comfort and edify (give good counsel; uplift; build up) one another as you (already) do. ¹²And, we beseech you, (beloved), (acknowledge) them that (work) among you and are (your leaders) in the Lord and (warn; try to put right; correct) you, ¹³and very highly esteem (them) in love for their works sake and be at peace (with each other). ¹⁴Now we (give you good counsel), (beloved), warn them that are unruly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient toward ALL men. ¹⁵See that none (seek revenge) (against) any man but (always) follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to ALL men. ¹⁶Rejoice (eternally). ¹⁷Pray without ceasing. ¹⁸Give thanks in everything; because this is God's will in Christ Jesus concerning you. ¹⁹Do not quench the (workings) of the Spirit. ²⁰Do not despise prophesying. ²¹Prove all things and hold fast to that which is good. ²²Abstain from (anything) appearing to be evil. ²³And the very God of peace Himself sanctify (consecrate; cleanse; purify) you (completely); and I pray God your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴He that called you is faithful and will do it.

²⁵(Beloved) pray for us. ²⁶Greet all the (beloved) with a holy kiss (an old tradition). ²⁷I charge you by the Lord that this (letter) be read to all the holy brethren. ²⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.