1 Thessalonians 1-5
King James Version
1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.
7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
2 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
4 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.
5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
13 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.
14 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:
15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
20 For ye are our glory and joy.
3 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.
12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
4 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
10 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;
11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
13 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.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 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.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 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.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
5 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
1 Thessalonians 1-5
New King James Version
Greeting
1 Paul, (A)Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the (B)Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace [a]from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Their Good Example
2 (C)We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing (D)your work of faith, (E)labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 4 knowing, beloved brethren, (F)your election by God. 5 For (G)our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, (H)and in the Holy Spirit (I)and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
6 And (J)you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, (K)with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8 For from you the word of the Lord (L)has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also (M)in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. 9 For they themselves declare concerning us (N)what manner of entry we had to you, (O)and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and (P)to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us (Q)from the wrath to come.
Paul’s Conduct(R)
2 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But [b]even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at (S)Philippi, as you know, we were (T)bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. 3 (U)For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.
4 But as (V)we have been approved by God (W)to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, (X)not as pleasing men, but God (Y)who tests our hearts. 5 For (Z)neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a [c]cloak for covetousness—(AA)God is witness. 6 (AB)Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when (AC)we might have (AD)made demands (AE)as apostles of Christ. 7 But (AF)we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased (AG)to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also (AH)our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9 For you remember, brethren, our (AI)labor and toil; for laboring night and day, (AJ)that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.
10 (AK)You are witnesses, and God also, (AL)how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and [d]charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 (AM)that you would walk worthy of God (AN)who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
Their Conversion
13 For this reason we also thank God (AO)without ceasing, because when you (AP)received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it (AQ)not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively (AR)works in you who believe. 14 For you, brethren, became imitators (AS)of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For (AT)you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, 15 (AU)who killed both the Lord Jesus and (AV)their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God (AW)and are [e]contrary to all men, 16 (AX)forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always (AY)to fill up the measure of their sins; (AZ)but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.
Longing to See Them
17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time (BA)in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. 18 Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but (BB)Satan hindered us. 19 For (BC)what is our hope, or joy, or (BD)crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the (BE)presence of our Lord Jesus Christ (BF)at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
Concern for Their Faith
3 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 2 and sent (BG)Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 (BH)that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that (BI)we are appointed to this. 4 (BJ)For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. 5 For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, (BK)lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and (BL)our labor might be in vain.
Encouraged by Timothy
6 (BM)But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, (BN)as we also to see you— 7 therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress (BO)we were comforted concerning you by your faith. 8 For now we live, if you (BP)stand fast in the Lord.
9 For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, 10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face (BQ)and perfect what is lacking in your faith?
Prayer for the Church
11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, (BR)direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord make you increase and (BS)abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, 13 so that He may establish (BT)your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
Plea for Purity
4 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus (BU)that you should abound more and more, (BV)just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; 2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is (BW)the will of God, (BX)your sanctification: (BY)that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 (BZ)that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 (CA)not in passion of lust, (CB)like the Gentiles (CC)who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord (CD)is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, (CE)but in holiness. 8 (CF)Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, (CG)who[f] has also given us His Holy Spirit.
A Brotherly and Orderly Life
9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for (CH)you yourselves are taught by God (CI)to love one another; 10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, (CJ)that you increase more and more; 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, (CK)to mind your own business, and (CL)to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 (CM)that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.
The Comfort of Christ’s Coming
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen [g]asleep, lest you sorrow (CN)as others (CO)who have no hope. 14 For (CP)if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him (CQ)those who [h]sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you (CR)by the word of the Lord, that (CS)we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are [i]asleep. 16 For (CT)the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with (CU)the trumpet of God. (CV)And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 (CW)Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them (CX)in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus (CY)we shall always be with the Lord. 18 (CZ)Therefore comfort one another with these words.
The Day of the Lord
5 But concerning (DA)the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that (DB)the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then (DC)sudden destruction comes upon them, (DD)as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 (DE)But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all (DF)sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 (DG)Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but (DH)let us watch and be [j]sober. 7 For (DI)those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk (DJ)are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, (DK)putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For (DL)God did not appoint us to wrath, (DM)but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 (DN)who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
11 Therefore [k]comfort each other and [l]edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Various Exhortations
12 And we urge you, brethren, (DO)to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and [m]admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. (DP)Be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we [n]exhort you, brethren, (DQ)warn those who are [o]unruly, (DR)comfort the fainthearted, (DS)uphold the weak, (DT)be patient with all. 15 (DU)See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always (DV)pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
16 (DW)Rejoice always, 17 (DX)pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 (DY)Do not quench the Spirit. 20 (DZ)Do not despise prophecies. 21 (EA)Test all things; (EB)hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
Blessing and Admonition
23 Now may (EC)the God of peace Himself (ED)sanctify[p] you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body (EE)be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is (EF)faithful, who also will (EG)do it.
25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
27 I charge you by the Lord that this [q]epistle be read to all the [r]holy brethren.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Footnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 1:1 NU omits from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
- 1 Thessalonians 2:2 NU, M omit even
- 1 Thessalonians 2:5 pretext for greed
- 1 Thessalonians 2:11 NU, M implored
- 1 Thessalonians 2:15 hostile
- 1 Thessalonians 4:8 NU who also gives
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13 Died
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14 Or through Jesus sleep
- 1 Thessalonians 4:15 Dead
- 1 Thessalonians 5:6 self-controlled
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Or encourage
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11 build one another up
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12 instruct or warn
- 1 Thessalonians 5:14 encourage
- 1 Thessalonians 5:14 insubordinate or idle
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23 set you apart
- 1 Thessalonians 5:27 letter
- 1 Thessalonians 5:27 NU omits holy
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
