Paul's love and great care I. THESSALONIANS, for the Thessalonians : followers of the churches of God and to comfort you concerning which in Judea are in Christ your faith:

Jesus: for ye alse have suffered 3 That no man should be like things of your own country- moved by these afflictions: for men, even as they have of the yourselves know that we are apJews:

pointed thereunto.

15 Who both killed the Lord 4 For verily, when we were Jesus, and their own prophets, with you, we told you before and have persecuted us; and that we should suffer tribulation; they please not God, and are even as it came to pass, and ye contrary to all men :

know.

16 Forbidding us to speak to 5 For this cause, when I could the Gentiles that they might be no longer forbear, I sent to know saved, to fill up their sins always: your faith, lest by some means for the wrath is come upon them the tempter have tempted you, to the uttermost. and our labour be in vain.

17 But we, brethren, being 6 But now, when Timotheus taken from you for a short time came from you unto us, and in presence, not in heart, en-brought us good tidings of your deavoured the more abundantly faith and charity, and that ye to see your face with great have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see

desire.

18 Wherefore we would have us, as we also to see you: come unto you, even I Paul, 7 Therefore, brethren, we once and again; but Satan hin- were comforted over you in all dered us. our affliction and distress by

19 For what is our hope, or your faith: joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are 8 For now we live, if ye not even ye in the presence of stand fast in the Lord. our Lord Jesus Christ at his 9 For what thanks can we coming? render to God again for you.

20 For ye are our glory and for all the joy wherewith we joy. joy for your sakes before our God; 10 Night and day praying

CHAP. III.
Paul's love in sending them Timothy.

WHEREFORE, when we exceedingly that we might see
no longer forbear, your face, and might perfect
we thought it good to be left at that which is lacking in your
Athens alone;
faith?

2 And sent Timotheus, our 11 Now God himself and our brother, and minister of God, Father, and our Lord Jesus and our fellow-labourer in the Christ, direct our way unto gospel of Christ, to establish you, you,

He exhorteth them to please God, CHAP. IV. and to proceed in holiness.

12 And the Lord make you despiseth not man, but God to increase and abound in love who hath also given unto us his one toward another, and toward Holy Spirit. all men, even as we do toward 9 But as touching brotherly you: love ye need not that I write

13 To the end he may estab- unto you: for ye yourselves lish your hearts unblameable in are taught of God to love one holiness before God, even our another.

Father, at the coming of our 10 And indeed ye do it toward Lord Jesus Christ with all his all the brethren which are in all saints. Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

CHAP. IV.

Exhortation to godliness.

we

FURTHERMORE then 11 And that ye study to be beseech you, brethren, and quiet, and to do your own busiexhort you by the Lord Jesus, ness, and to work with your that as ye have received of us own hands, as we commanded how ye ought to walk and to you; please God, so ye would abound 12 That ye may walk honestmore and more. ly toward them that are without,

2 For ye know what com-and that ye may have lack of mandments we gave you by the nothing. Lord Jesus.

even

13 But I would not have you

3 For this is the will of God, to be ignorant, brethren, conyour sanctification, that cerning them which are asleep, ye should abstain from forni- that ye sorrow not, even as cation: others which have no hope.

4 That every one of you should 14 For if we believe that Jesus know how to possess his vessel died and rose again, even so in sanctification and honour; them also which sleep in Jesus 5 Not in the lust of concu- will God bring with him. piscence, even as the Gentiles 15 For this we say unto you which know not God: by the word of the Lord, that

6 That no man go beyond we which are alive and remain and defraud his brother in any unto the coming of the Lord matter: because that the Lord shall not prevent them which is the avenger of all such, as are asleep. we also have forewarned you 16 For the Lord himself shall and testified. descend from heaven with

a

7 For God hath not called shout, with the voice of the us unto uncleanness, but unto archangel, and with the trump holiness. of God: and the dead in Christ 8 He therefore that despiseth, shall rise first:

!

Certainty and suddenness I. THESSALONIANS, of Christ's second coming.

17 Then we which are alive salvation by our Lord Jesus and remain shall be caught up Christ, together with them in the clouds, 10 Who died for us, that, to meet the Lord in the air: whether we wake or sleep, we and so shall we ever be with should live together with him. the Lord.

11 Wherefore, comfort your18 Wherefore, comfort one selves together, and edify one another with these words.

CHAP. V.

another, even as also ye do. 12 And we beseech you, Description of Christ's coming. brethren, to know them which

BUT of the times and the labour among you, and are over

seasons, brethren, ye have you in the Lord, and admonish

no need that I write unto you. you;

2 For yourselves know per- 13 And to esteem them very fectly, that the day of the Lord highly in love for their work's 60 cometh as a thief in the sake. And be at peace among night.

yourselves.

3 For when they shall say, 14 Now we exhort you, brethPeace and safety; then sudden ren, warn them that are unruly, destruction cometh upon them, comfort the feeble-minded, supas travail upon a woman with port the weak, be patient tochild; and they shall not escape. ward all men.

4 But ye, brethren, are not 15 See that none render evil in darkness, that that day should for evil unto any man; but ever overtake you as a thief. follow that which is good, both

5 Ye are all the children of among yourselves, and to all light, and the children of the men. day: we are not of the night, 16 Rejoice evermore.

nor of darkness.

17 Pray without ceasing. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, 18 In every thing give thanks: as do others; but let us watch for this is the will of God in and be sober. Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit.

20 Despise not prophesy

7 For they that sleep, sleep
in the night; and they that be
drunken, are drunken in the ings.
night.

21 Prove all things; hold

8 But let us, who are of the fast that which is good. day, be sober, putting on the 22 Abstain from all appearbreast-plate of faith and love; ance of evil. and for a helmet, the hope of 23 And the very God of peace

sanctify you wholly; and I pray 9 For God hath not appoint- God your whole spirit, and soul, ed us to wrath, but to obtain and body, be preserved blame.

1

The apostle concludes with

CHAP. V.

salutation and prayer.

less unto the coming of our Lord that this epistle be read unto all 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 a holy kiss.

27 I charge you by the Lord

the holy brethren.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

The first epistle unto the Thessalonians was written from Athens.

The Second Epistle of PAUL, the Apostle, to the THES

CHAP. I.

SALONIANS.

7 And to you, who are trouPaul's comfort against persecution. bled, rest with us, when the

PAUL, and Silvanus, and Ti- Lord Jesus shall be revealed motheus, unto the church from heaven with his mighty

of the Thessalonians in God angels, our Father and the Lord Jesus 8 In flaming fire taking venChrist: geance on them that know not

2 Grace unto you, and peace, God, and that obey not the gosfrom God our Father and the pel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Lord Jesus Christ. 9 Who shall be punished with

3 We are bound to thank everlasting destruction from the God always for you, brethren, presence of the Lord, and from as it is meet, because that your the glory of his power; faith groweth exceedingly, and 10 When he shall come to the charity of every one of you be glorified in his saints, and all toward each other aboundeth: to be admired in all them that

4 So that we ourselves glory believe (because our testimony in you in the churches of God, among you was believed) in that for your patience and faith in all day. your persecutions and tribula- 11 Wherefore also we pray tions that ye endure: always for you, that our God

5 Which is a manifest token would count you worthy of this of the righteous judgment of calling, and fulfil all the good God, that ye may be counted pleasure of his goodness, and worthy of the kingdom of God, the work of faith with power: for which ye also suffer: 12 That the name of our Lord

6 Seeing it is a righteous Jesus Christ may be glorified in thing with God to recompense you, and ye in him, according tribulation to them that trouble to the grace of our God, and of you;

Antichrist described. II. THESSALONIANS, Exhortation to steadfastness.

CHAP. II.

Of steadfastness in the truth.

of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received

Now we beseech you, breth- not the love of the truth, that

ren, by the coming of our they might be saved.

Lord Jesus Christ, and by our 11 And for this cause God
gathering together unto him,
shall send them strong delusion,

2 That ye be not soon shaken that they should believe a lie: in mind, or be troubled, neither 12 That they all might be by spirit, nor by word, nor by damned who believed not the letter as from us, as that the truth, but had pleasure in unday of Christ is at hand.

righteousness.

3 Let no man deceive you by 13 But we are bound to give any means: for that day shall not thanks always to God for you, come, except there come a falling brethren beloved of the Lord, away first, and that man of sin because God hath from the be be revealed, the son of perdition; ginning chosen you to salvation, 4 Who opposeth and exalteth through sanctification of the Spihimself above all that is called rit, and belief of the truth: God, or that is worshipped; so 14 Whereunto he called you that he, as God, sitteth in the by our gospel, to the obtaining temple of God, shewing himself of the glory of our Lord Jesus

that he is God.

Christ.

5 Remember ye not, that 15 Therefore, brethren, stand when I was yet with you, I told fast, and hold the traditions you these things? which ye have been taught,

6 And now ye know what whether by word, or our epistle. withholdeth that he might be 16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ revealed in his time. himself, and God, even our Fa

7 For the mystery of iniquity ther, which hath loved us, and doth already work: only he who hath given us everlasting con now letteth will let, until he be solation and good hope through taken out of the way.

grace,

8 And then shall that Wicked 17 Comfort your hearts, and be revealed, whom the Lord establish you in every good word shall consume with the spirit and work.

of his mouth, and shall de

CHAP. III.

stroy with the brightness of his Paul giveth them divers precepts.

coming:

FINALLY, brethren, pray for

9 Even him, whose coming is the word of the Lord after the working of Satan, with may have free course, and be all power, and signs, and lying glorified, even as it is with you; 2 And that we may be de10 And with all deceivableness livered from unreasonable and