Greeting

1 Paul, aSilvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the bThessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace 1from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Their Good Example

2 cWe give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing dyour work of faith, elabor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 4 knowing, beloved brethren, fyour election by God. 5 For gour gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, hand in the Holy Spirit iand in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.

6 And jyou became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, kwith 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 lhas sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also min 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 nwhat manner of entry we had to you, oand how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and pto wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us qfrom the wrath to come.

Paul’s Conduct

2 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But 1even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at aPhilippi, as you know, we were bbold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. 3 cFor our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.

4 But as dwe have been approved by God eto be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, fnot as pleasing men, but God gwho tests our hearts. 5 For hneither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a 2cloak for covetousness—iGod is witness. 6 jNor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when kwe might have lmade demands mas apostles of Christ. 7 But nwe were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased oto impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also pour own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9 For you remember, brethren, our qlabor and toil; for laboring night and day, rthat we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

10 sYou are witnesses, and God also, thow devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and 3charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 uthat you would walk worthy of God vwho calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Their Conversion

13 For this reason we also thank God wwithout ceasing, because when you xreceived the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it ynot as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively zworks in you who believe. 14 For you, brethren, became imitators aof the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For byou also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, 15 cwho killed both the Lord Jesus and dtheir own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God eand are 4contrary to all men, 16 fforbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always gto fill up the measure of their sins; hbut 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 iin 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 jSatan hindered us. 19 For kwhat is our hope, or joy, or lcrown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the mpresence of our Lord Jesus Christ nat 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 aTimothy, 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 bthat no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that cwe are appointed to this. 4 dFor, 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, elest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and four labor might be in vain.

Encouraged by Timothy

6 gBut 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, has we also to see you—7 therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress iwe were comforted concerning you by your faith. 8 For now we live, if you jstand 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 kand perfect what is lacking in your faith?

Prayer for the Church

11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, ldirect our way to you. 12 And may the Lord make you increase and mabound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, 13 so that He may establish nyour hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.