1 Gr. presence. 2 Some ancient authorities worker with God. 3 Or, plainly. For 19 Paul once and again; and Satan hindered us. 20 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we 3 thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone; and 2 sent Timothy, our brother and 2 God's minister in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you read fellow concerning your faith; that no man be moved by these 3 afflictions; for yourselves know that hereunto we are appointed. For verily, when we were with you, we 4 told you 3 beforehand that we are to suffer affliction; even as it came to pass, and ye know. For this cause 5 I also, when I could no longer forbear, sent that I might know your faith, lest by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labour should be in vain. But when Timothy came even now unto us from you, 6 and brought us glad tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, even as we also to see you; for this 7 cause, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith: for now 8 we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. For what 9 thanksgiving can we render again unto God for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; night and day praying exceedingly that we 10 may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith? 4 Many ancient authorities Now may our God and Father himself, and our 11 Lord Jesus, direct our way unto you: and the Lord 12 make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we also do toward you; to the end he may stablish your hearts unblame- 13 able in holiness before our God and Father, at the 1 coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.* Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you 4 add Amen. in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk, - that ye abound more and more. For ye know what 2 charge we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 5 Gr. charges. 5 For 3 this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that 1 4 ye abstain from fornication; that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in 5 sanctification and honour, not in the passion of lust, 6 even as the Gentiles which know not God; that no man 1transgress, and wrong his brother in the matter: 1 Or, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as 7 also we 2forewarned you and testified. For God called Or, told 8 us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. Therefore he that rejecteth, rejecteth not man, but God, who giveth his Holy Spirit unto you. 9 But we overreach. 2 you plainly. But concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught 10 of God to love one another; for indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia. exhort you, brethren, that ye abound more and more; 11 and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own Gr. be business, and to work with your hands, even as 12 we charged you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and may have need of nothing. 13 But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, 14 even as the rest, which have no hope. For if we ambitious. through. Jesus. believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring Gr. 15 with him. For this we say unto you by the word of Or, will God the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the through 5 coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them 5 Gr. 16 that are fallen asleep. For the Lord himself shall presence. descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the 17 dead in Christ shall rise first: then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air and so shall 18 we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore 5 another with these words. : comfort one ❝ Or, exhort. But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, 2 ye have no need that aught be written unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so 3 cometh as a thief in the night. When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh 1 Some ancient authorities read as thieves. upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape. But ye, brethren, are 4 not in darkness, that that day should overtake you 1as a thief: for ye are all sons of light, and sons of the 5 day we are not of the night, nor of darkness; so 6 then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; 7 and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting 8 on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God appointed us not 9 unto wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, 10 2 Or, watch. Whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore exhort one another, and build 11 each other up, even as also ye do. 3 Or, comfort. 4 Many ancient authorities insert but. 5 Or, appearance. 6 Gr. presence. 7 Some ancient authorities add also. 8 Many ancient authorities insert holy. But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that 12 labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them exceeding highly 13 in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves. And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the 14 disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all. See that none 15 render unto any one evil for evil; but alway follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all. Rejoice alway; pray without ceasing; 16,17 in every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God 18 in Christ Jesus to you-ward. Quench not the Spirit; 19 despise not prophesyings; prove all things; hold fast 20,21 that which is good; abstain from every 5 form of evil. 22 And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; 23 and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. do it. Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also 24 25 Brethren, pray for us." Salute all the brethren with a holy kiss. I adjure 26,27 you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 28 THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. 1 PAUL, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord 2 Jesus Christ; Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We are bound to give thanks to God alway for you, brethren, even as it is meet, for that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all 4 toward one another aboundeth; 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 5 which ye endure; which is a manifest token of the righteous judgement of God; to the end that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which 6 ye also suffer: if so be that it is a righteous thing with God to recompense affliction to them that afflict 7 you, and to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the 8 angels of his power in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not 9 the gospel of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the 10 Lord and from the glory of his might, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at in all them that believed (because our testimony 11 unto you was believed) in that day. To which end we also pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfil every desire of Gr. good 12 goodness and every work of faith, with power; that goodness. the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 1 pleasure of 1 Gr. in behalf of. 2 Gr. 3 Many ancient read law lessness. 4 Gr. an object of worship. 5 Or, sanctuary. Now we beseech you, brethren, 1touching the 2 com- 2 ing of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering presence. together unto him; to the end that ye be not quickly 2 shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord is now present; let no man 3 beguile you in any wise: for it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of 3 sin be reauthorities vealed, the son of perdition, he that opposeth and 4 exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the 5 temple of God, setting himself forth as God. Remember ye 5 not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know that which restraineth, to 6 the end that he may be revealed in his own season. For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: 7 Or, only only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall be revealed 8 the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his coming; even he, whose 9 2 coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all 10 authorities deceit of unrighteousness for them that are perishing; because they received not the love of the truth, that Gr. power they might be saved. And for this cause God send- 11 eth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie that they all might be judged who believed not 12 the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. until he that now re straineth be taken &c. 7 Some ancient authorities omit Jesus. 8 Some ancient read con sume. and signs and wonders of falsehood. 10 Many 6 9 7 8 But we are bound to give thanks to God alway for 13 you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose ancient you 10 from the beginning unto salvation in sanctificaauthorities tion of the Spirit and "belief of the truth: whereunto 14 firstfruits. he called you through our gospel, to the obtaining of 11 Or, faith. the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, breth- 15 ren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye were taught, whether by word, or by epistle of ours. read as Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our 16 Father which loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and 17 stablish them in every good work and word. |