claimed honour

2 Most of the ancient authorities read babes.

ther at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know, nor a cloke of covet6 ousness, God is witness; nor 1 Or, seeking glory of men, neither from you, nor from others, when we might have been burdensome, as apostles of 7 Christ. But we were 2 gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherisheth her own 8 children: even so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were well pleased to impart unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were become 9 very dear to us. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. 10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and righteously and unblameably we behaved ourselves toward you that believe: 11 as ye know how we dealt with each one of you, as a father with his own children, exhorting you, and encouraging you, 12 and testifying, to the end that ye should walk worthily of God, who calleth you into his own kingdom and glory.

13

3 Some ancient authorities read called.

4 Gr. the word of hearing.

5 Gr. a season of an hour.

presence.

7 Some

ancient

authori ties read fellowworker with God.

And for this cause we also 6 Gr. thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us 4 the word of the message, even the word of God, ye accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also work14 eth in you that believe. For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judæa in Christ Jesus: for ye also suffered the same things of your own countrymen, even as they did of the 8 Or, 15 Jews; who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drave out us, and please not God, and are contrary to

plainly

all men; forbidding us to speak 16 to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins alway: but the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

But we, brethren, being be- 17 reaved of you for 5 a short season, in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more exceedingly to see your face with great desire: because we would 18 fain have come unto you, I Paul once and again; and Satan hindered us. For what is 19 our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even ye, before our Lord Jesus at his coming? For ye are our 20 glory and our joy.

Wherefore when we could 3 no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone; and sent Ti- 2 mothy, our brother and 7 God's minister in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you 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 4 with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction; even as it came to pass, and ye know. For this cause Í 5 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 6 even now unto us from you, 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 7 this cause, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith: for now we live, 8 if ye stand fast in the Lord. For what thanksgiving can we 9 render again unto God for you,

ancient authorities add Amen.

charges.

to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we 13 also do toward you; to the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before our God and Fa-3 Gr. ther, at the 1 coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.2 4 Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you 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_a2 bound more and more. For

ye know what charge we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye abstain from fornication; 4 that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification 5 and honour, not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles 6 which know not God; that no man transgress, and wrong his brother in the matter: because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we 5 forewarned you and testified. 7 For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. 8 Therefore he that rejecteth, rejecteth not man, but God, who giveth his Holy Spirit unto you.

9

But concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God 10 to love one another; for in

4 Or, overreach

5 Or, told you plainly

6 Gr.

be ambitious.

7 Gr. through. Or, will God through Jesus

8Or, exhort

deed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, that ye abound more and more; and that ye 6study 11 to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your hands, even as we charged you; that ye may walk ho- 12 nestly toward them that are without, and may have need of nothing.

But we would not have you 13 ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, which have no hope. For if 14 we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep 7in Jesus will God bring with him. For 15 this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the 1 coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep. For the 18 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: then we that 17 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 we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore 8 comfort one an- 18 other with these words.

But concerning the times 5 and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you. For your- 2 selves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. When 3 they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, ás travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape. But ye, brethren, 4 are not in darkness, that that

be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also 6 suffer: if so be that it is a righteous thing with God to recompense affliction to them that 7 afflict 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 the gospel of our Lord Jesus: 9 who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from 10 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 unto you was believed) in that

God, setting himself forth as God. Remember ye not, that, 5 when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And 6 now ye know that which restraineth, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season. For the mystery of 7 lawlessness doth already work: 7 only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall be 8 revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall 9 slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his 3 coming; even he, whose 3 coming is 9 according to the working of Satan with all 10 power and with all deceit of unrighteoussigns and lying wonders, and 10

ness for them that are perishing; because they received not

pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfil every I desire of goodness and every work of faith, with power; 12 that 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.

until he that now restraineth be taken &c.

8 Some ancient authorities omit Jesus.

9 Some ancient authorities read consume.

10 Gr.

power

and signs and wonders of

2 Now we beseech you, brethren, 2 touching the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto 2 him; to the end that ye be not quickly 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 3 now present; let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of 4 sin be revealed, the son of 4 perdition, he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or 5 that is worshipped; so that he 12 Or, faith sitteth in the temple of

falsehood.

11 Many

ancient
authori-

ties read
fruits.
as first-

they might be saved. And for 11 this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie: that they 12 all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

But we are bound to give 13 thanks to God alway for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you 11 from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and 12 belief of the truth: whereunto he called you 14 through our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, 15 brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye were taught, whether by word, or by epistle of ours.

Now our Lord Jesus Christ 16 himself, and God our Father which loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort 17 your hearts and stablish them in every good work and word.

3 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even 2 as also it is with you; and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; 3 for all have not 1 faith. But 1 Or, the the Lord is faithful, who shall faith stablish you, and guard you 4 from 2 the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which 5 we command. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of Christ.

6

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which 73 they received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly a8 mong you; neither did we eat bread for nought at any man's hand, but in labour and travail, working night and day, that we might not burden any 9 of you: not because we have

2 Or, evil

3 Some ancient authorities read

ye.

not the right, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you, that ye should imitate us. For even when we were with 10 you, this we commanded you, If any will not work, neither let him eat. For we hear of 11 some that walk among you disorderly, that work not at all, but are busybodies. Now 12 them that are such we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, 13 be not weary in well-doing. And if any man obeyeth not 14 our word by this epistle, note that man, that ye have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed. And 15 yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Now the Lord of peace him- 16 self give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all.

The salutation of me Paul 17 with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write. The grace of our Lord 18 Jesus Christ be with you all.