Study Desk

This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the message about God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is,^(w) the message of God,^(x) which also works effectively in you believers.

For you, brothers, became imitators of God's churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea,^(y) since you have also suffered^(z) the same things from people of your own country,^(aa) just as they did from the Jews

who killed both the Lord Jesus^(ab) and the prophets and persecuted us;^(ac) they displease God and are hostile to everyone,

hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. As a result, they are always completing the number of their sins,^(ad) and wrath has overtaken them at last.^[b]

But as for us, brothers, after we were forced to leave you for a short time (in person, not in heart^(ae)), we greatly desired and made every effort to return^(af) and see you face to face.

So we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan^(ag) hindered us.

For who is our hope or joy^(ah) or crown^(ai) of boasting^(aj) in the presence of our Lord^(ak) Jesus at His coming?^(al) Is it not you?^(am)

For you are our glory^(an) and joy!

Therefore, when we could no longer stand it, we thought it was better to be left alone in Athens.^(a)

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,

so that no one will be shaken by these persecutions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to^[b] this.

In fact, when we were with you, we told you previously that we were going to suffer persecution, and as you know, it happened.

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.

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)

Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we were encouraged about you through your faith.

For now we live, if you stand firm^(f) in the Lord.

How can we thank God for you in return for all the joy^(g) we experience before our God because of you,

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⁾

Now may our God and Father^(j) Himself, and our Lord Jesus,^(k) direct our way to you.

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.

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]

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.

For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

For this is God's will,^(a) your sanctification:^(b) that you abstain^(c) from sexual immorality,

so that each of you knows how to control his own body^[b] in sanctification and honor,

not with lustful desires,^(d) like the Gentiles who don't know God.

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.

For God has not called us to impurity^(f) but to sanctification.

Therefore, the person who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who also gives you His Holy Spirit.^(g)

About brotherly love: You don't need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by God^(h) to love one another.⁽ⁱ⁾

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,

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,

so that you may walk properly^[e](m) in the presence of outsiders^[f] and not be dependent on anyone.^[g](n)

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)

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)

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)

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.

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.

Therefore encourage^[l] one another with these words.

About the times and the seasons:^(a) Brothers, you do not need anything to be written to you.

For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord^(b) will come just like a thief^(c) in the night.

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.

But you, brothers, are not in the dark, for this day to overtake you like a thief.^(e)

For you are all sons of light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.^(f)

So then, we must not sleep, like the rest, but we must stay awake and be serious.

For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.

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.

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord^(j) Jesus Christ,^(k)

who died for us,^(l) so that whether we are awake or asleep,^(m) we will live together with Him.⁽ⁿ⁾

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.

Now we ask you, brothers, to give recognition^(o) to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you,

and to regard them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace^(p) among yourselves.

And we exhort you, brothers:^(q) warn those who are irresponsible,^[a] comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient^(r) with everyone.

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)

Rejoice^(v) always!

Pray constantly.

Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will^(w) for you in Christ Jesus.

Don't stifle the Spirit.

Don't despise prophecies,

but test all things.^(x) Hold on to what is good.

Stay away^(y) from every kind of evil.

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)

He who calls^(ae) you^(af) is faithful, who also will do it.

Brothers, pray for us also.

Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

I charge you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers.^(ag)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.