Bible Reading Plan

Chapter 3

Anxiety in Athens

¹ Therefore, when we could no longer stand it, we thought it was better to be left alone in Athens.^{(a) 2} And we sent Timothy,^(b) our brother and God's coworker^[a] in the gospel of Christ,^(c) to strengthen and encourage you concerning your faith, ³ so that no one will be shaken by these persecutions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to^[b] this. ⁴ In fact, when we were with you, we told you previously that we were going to suffer persecution, and as you know, it happened. ⁵ For this reason, when I could no longer stand it, I also sent him to find out about your faith, fearing that the tempter had tempted you and that our labor might be for nothing.

Encouraged by Timothy

⁶ But now Timothy has come to us^(d) from you and brought us good news about your faith and love and reported that you always have good memories of us, wanting to see us, as we also want to see you.^{(e) 7} Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we were encouraged about you through your faith. ⁸ For now we live, if you stand firm^(f) in the Lord. ⁹ How can we thank God for you in return for all the joy^(g) we experience before our God because of you, ¹⁰ as we pray very earnestly night and day to see you face to face^(h) and to complete what is lacking in your faith?⁽ⁱ⁾

Prayer for the Church

¹¹ Now may our God and Father^(j) Himself, and our Lord Jesus,^(k) direct our way to you. ¹² And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love^(l) for one another^(m) and for everyone, just as we also do for you. ¹³ May He make your hearts blameless⁽ⁿ⁾ in holiness^(o) before our God and Father at the coming^(p) of our Lord^(q) Jesus with all His saints. Amen.^[c]

Chapter 4

The Call to Sanctification

¹ Finally then, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you must walk and please God—as you are doing^[a]—do so even more. ² For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

³ For this is God's will,^(a) your sanctification:^(b) that you abstain^(c) from sexual immorality, ⁴ so that each of you knows how to control his own body^[b] in sanctification and honor, ⁵ not with lustful desires,^(d) like the Gentiles who don't know God. ⁶ This means one must not transgress against and defraud^(e) his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses,^[c] as we also previously told and warned you. ⁷ For God has not called us to impurity^(f) but to sanctification. ⁸ Therefore, the person who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who also gives you His Holy Spirit.^(g)

Loving and Working

⁹ About brotherly love: You don't need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by God^(h) to love one another.^{(i) 10} In fact, you are doing this toward all the brothers in the entire region of Macedonia.^(j) But we encourage you, brothers, to do so even more, ¹¹ to seek to lead a quiet life,^(k) to mind your own business,^[d] and to work^(l) with your own hands, as we commanded you, ¹² so that you may walk properly^[e](m) in the presence of outsiders^[f] and not be dependent on anyone.^[g](n)

The Comfort of Christ's Coming

¹³ We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.^{(o) 14} Since we believe that Jesus died and rose^(p) again,^(q) in the same way God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through^[h] Jesus.^{(r) 15} For we say this to you by a revelation from the Lord:^[i](s) We who are still alive at the Lord's coming^(t) will certainly have no advantage over^[j] those who have fallen asleep.^{(u) 16} For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,^[k](v) with the archangel's^(w) voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ^(x) will rise first. ¹⁷ Then^(y) we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds^(z) to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage^[l] one another with these words.

Chapter 5

The Day of the Lord

¹ About the times and the seasons:^(a) Brothers, you do not need anything to be written to you. ² For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord^(b) will come just like a thief^(c) in the night. ³ When they say, "Peace and security," then sudden destruction^(d) comes on them, like labor pains come on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you, brothers, are not in the dark, for this day to overtake you like a thief.^{(e) 5} For you are all sons of light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.^{(f) 6} So then, we must not sleep, like the rest, but we must stay awake and be serious. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, we must be serious^(g) and put the armor^(h) of faith and love on our chests, and put on a helmet⁽ⁱ⁾ of the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord^(j) Jesus Christ,^{(k) 10} who died for us,^(l) so that whether we are awake or asleep,^(m) we will live together with Him.^{(n) 11} Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.

Exhortations and Blessings

¹² Now we ask you, brothers, to give recognition^(o) to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you, ¹³ and to regard them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace^(p) among yourselves. ¹⁴ And we exhort you, brothers:^(q) warn those who are irresponsible,^[a] comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient^(r) with everyone. ¹⁵ See to it that no one repays evil for evil^(s) to anyone,^(t) but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.^(u)

²³ Now may the God of peace^(z) Himself sanctify you completely. And may your spirit,^(aa) soul, and body be kept sound and blameless for the coming^(ab) of our Lord^(ac) Jesus Christ.^{(ad) 24} He who calls^(ae) you^(af) is faithful, who also will do it. ²⁵ Brothers, pray for us also. ²⁶ Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. ²⁷ I charge you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers.^{(ag) 28} The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Chapter 2

The Man of Lawlessness

¹ Now concerning the coming^(a) of our Lord^(b) Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him: We ask you, brothers, ² not to be easily upset in mind or troubled, either by a spirit^(c) or by a message or by a letter as if from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord^[a](d) has come.^{(e) 3} Don't let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy^[b] comes first and the man of lawlessness^[c] is revealed, the son of destruction. ⁴ He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god^(f) or object of worship,^(g) so that he sits^[d] in God's sanctuary,^[e] publicizing that he himself is God.

⁵ Don't you remember that when I was still with you I told you about this? ⁶ And you know what currently restrains him, so that he will be revealed in his time.^{(h) 7} For the mystery of lawlessness⁽ⁱ⁾ is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way, ⁸ and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of His mouth^(j) and will bring him to nothing with the brightness of His coming. ⁹ The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan's working, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders,^{(k) 10} and with every unrighteous deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth in order to be saved.^{(l) 11} For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe what is false, ¹² so that all will be condemned^(m)—those who did not believe⁽ⁿ⁾ the truth but enjoyed unrighteousness.

Stand Firm

¹³ But we must always thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning^[f] God has chosen^(o) you for salvation through sanctification^(p) by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. ¹⁴ He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory^(q) of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ Therefore, brothers, stand firm^(r) and hold to the traditions you were taught,^(s) either by our message or by our letter.

¹⁶ May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved^(t) us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace, ¹⁷ encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.

Chapter 3

Pray for Us

¹ Finally, brothers, pray for us that the Lord's message may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you,^{(a) 2} and that we may be delivered^(b) from wicked and evil men, for not all have faith.^{[a] 3} But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen and guard you from the evil one.^{(c) 4} We have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do what we command. ⁵ May the Lord direct your hearts to God's love and Christ's endurance.^(d)

Warning against Irresponsible Behavior

⁶ Now we command you, brothers, in the name^(e) of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother^(f) who walks irresponsibly and not according to the tradition^(g) received^(h) from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you must imitate⁽ⁱ⁾ us: We were not irresponsible among you; ⁸ we did not eat^(j) anyone's food^[b] free of charge;^(k) instead, we labored^(l) and struggled,^(m) working⁽ⁿ⁾ night and day, so that we would not be a burden^(o) to any of you. ⁹ It is not that we don't have the right^(p) to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate^(q) us. ¹⁰ In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: "If anyone isn't willing to work, he should not eat."^{(r) 11} For we hear that there are some among you who walk irresponsibly, not working at all, but interfering with the work of others.^{(s) 12} Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ that quietly working, they may eat their own food.^{[c] 13} Brothers, do not grow weary^(t) in doing good.

¹⁴ And if anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take note of that person; don't associate with him, so that he may be ashamed. ¹⁵ Yet don't treat him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

Final Greetings

¹⁶ May the Lord of peace^(u) Himself give you peace always in every way.^(v) The Lord be with all of you.^{(w) 17} This greeting is in my own hand^(x)—Paul. This is a sign in every letter; this is how I write. ¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.