Chapter 3

Encouragement of Timothy’s Visit

1 Therefore awhen we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at bAthens alone,

2 and we sent aTimothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith,

3 so that no one would be 1disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that awe have been destined for this.

4 For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; 1aand so it came to pass, 2as you know.

5 For this reason, awhen I could endure it no longer, I also bsent to 1find out about your faith, for fear that cthe tempter might have tempted you, and dour labor would be in vain.

6 But now that aTimothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of byour faith and love, and that you always cthink kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you,

7 for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith;

8 for now we really live, if you astand firm in the Lord.

9 For awhat thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account,

10 as we anight and day keep praying most earnestly that we may bsee your face, and may ccomplete what is lacking in your faith?

11 aNow may bour God and Father cHimself and Jesus our Lord ddirect our way to you;

12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and aabound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;

13 so that He may aestablish your hearts bwithout blame in holiness before cour God and Father at the 1dcoming of our Lord Jesus ewith all His 2saints.

Chapter 4

Sanctification and Love

1 aFinally then, bbrethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to 1cwalk and dplease God (just as you actually do 1walk), that you eexcel still more.

2 For you know what commandments we gave you 1by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you aabstain from 1sexual immorality;

4 that aeach of you know how to 1possess his own 2bvessel in sanctification and chonor,

5 not in 1alustful passion, like the Gentiles who bdo not know God;

6 and that no man transgress and adefraud his brother bin the matter because cthe Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also dtold you before and solemnly warned you.

7 For aGod has not called us for bthe purpose of impurity, but 1in sanctification.

8 So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who agives His Holy Spirit to you.

9 Now as to the alove of the brethren, you bhave no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are ctaught by God to love one another;

10 for indeed ayou do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to bexcel still more,

11 and to make it your ambition ato lead a quiet life and battend to your own business and cwork with your hands, just as we commanded you,

12 so that you will 1abehave properly toward boutsiders and 2cnot be in any need.

Those Who Died in Christ

13 But awe do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who bare asleep, so that you will not grieve as do cthe rest who have dno hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, aeven so God will bring with Him bthose who have fallen asleep 1in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you aby the word of the Lord, that bwe who are alive 1and remain until cthe coming of the Lord, will not precede dthose who have fallen asleep.

16 For the Lord aHimself bwill descend from heaven with a 1cshout, with the voice of dthe archangel and with the etrumpet of God, and fthe dead in Christ will rise first.

17 Then awe who are alive 1and remain will be bcaught up together with them cin the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always dbe with the Lord.

18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Chapter 5

The Day of the Lord

1 Now as to the atimes and the epochs, brethren, you bhave no need of anything to be written to you.

2 For you yourselves know full well that athe day of the Lord 1will come bjust like a thief in the night.

3 While they are saying, “aPeace and safety!” then 1bdestruction 2will come upon them suddenly like clabor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.

4 But you, brethren, are not in adarkness, that the day would overtake you 1blike a thief;

5 for you are all asons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of bdarkness;

6 so then let us not asleep as 1bothers do, but let us be alert and 2csober.

7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get adrunk at night.

8 But since awe are of the day, let us bbe 1sober, having put on the cbreastplate of dfaith and love, and as a ehelmet, the fhope of salvation.

9 For God has not destined us for awrath, but for bobtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

10 awho died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.

11 Therefore 1encourage one another and abuild up one another, just as you also are doing.

Christian Conduct

12 But we request of you, brethren, that you 1aappreciate those bwho diligently labor among you, and chave charge over you in the Lord and give you 2instruction,

13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. aLive in peace with one another.

14 We urge you, brethren, admonish athe 1unruly, encourage bthe fainthearted, help cthe weak, be dpatient with everyone.

15 See that ano one repays another with evil for evil, but always bseek after that which is good for one another and for all people.

16 aRejoice always;

17 apray without ceasing;

18 in everything agive thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 aDo not quench the Spirit;

20 do not despise aprophetic 1utterances.

21 But aexamine everything carefully; bhold fast to that which is good;

22 abstain from every 1form of evil.

23 Now amay the God of peace bHimself sanctify you entirely; and may your cspirit and soul and body be preserved complete, dwithout blame at ethe coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 aFaithful is He who bcalls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

25 Brethren, apray for us1.

26 aGreet all the brethren with a holy kiss.

27 I adjure you by the Lord to ahave this letter read to all the bbrethren.

28 aThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.