Month: February 2020

Greeting

1 Paul, Silvanus,and Timothy:

To the church of the Thessaloniansin God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace to you and peace.

Thanksgiving

2 We always thank God for all of you, remembering you constantly in our prayers.

3 We recall, in the presence of our God and Father,your work of faith,labor of love, and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ,

4 knowing your election,brothers lovedby God.

5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit,and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we were among youfor your benefit,

6 and you became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the messagewith joy from the Holy Spirit.

7 As a result, you became an example to all the believers in Macedoniaand Achaia.

8 For the Lord’s message rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faithin God has gone out. Therefore, we don’t need to say anything,

9 for they themselves reportwhat kind of receptionwe had from you: how you turnedto God from idolsto serve the livingand trueGod

10 and to waitfor His Sonfrom heaven, whom He raised from the dead— Jesus, who rescues usfrom the coming wrath.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1TH/1-9667313e70043efff3fbf9da855ca197.mp3?version_id=72—

Paul’s Conduct

1 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our visitwith you was not without result.

2 On the contrary, after we had previously suffered,and we were treated outrageously in Philippi,as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition.

3 For our exhortation didn’t come from error or impurityor an intent to deceive.

4 Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrustedwith the gospel,so we speak, not to please men, but rather God,who examines our hearts.

5 For we never used flattering speech, as you know, or had greedymotives— God is our witness—

6 and we didn’t seek gloryfrom people, either from you or from others.

7 Although we could have been a burden as Christ’s apostles,instead we were gentleamong you, as a nursing mother nurtures her own children.

8 We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

9 For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers. Workingnight and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God’s gospel to you.

10 You are witnesses,and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously,and blamelesslywe conducted ourselves with you believers.

11 As you know, like a father with his own children,

12 we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God,who calls you into His own kingdomand glory.

Reception and Opposition to the Message

13 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,the message of God,which also works effectively in you believers.

14 For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea,since you have also sufferedthe same things from people of your own country,just as they did from the Jews

15 who killed both the Lord Jesusand the prophets and persecuted us;they displease God and are hostile to everyone,

16 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,and wrath has overtaken them at last.

Paul’s Desire to See Them

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

18 So we wanted to come to you — even I, Paul, time and again — but Satanhindered us.

19 For who is our hope or joyor crownof boastingin the presence of our LordJesus at His coming?Is it not you?

20 For you are our gloryand joy!

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1TH/2-18b07c45bf355744bca8b9167e3715d2.mp3?version_id=72—

Anxiety in Athens

1 Therefore, when we could no longer stand it, we thought it was better to be left alone in Athens.

2 And we sent Timothy,our brother and God’s coworkerin the gospel of Christ,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 tothis.

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 usfrom 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.

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 firmin the Lord.

9 How can we thank God for you in return for all the joywe experience before our God because of you,

10 as we pray very earnestly night and day to see you face to faceand to complete what is lacking in your faith?

Prayer for the Church

11 Now may our God and FatherHimself, and our Lord Jesus,direct our way to you.

12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with lovefor one anotherand for everyone, just as we also do for you.

13 May He make your hearts blamelessin holinessbefore our God and Father at the comingof our LordJesus with all His saints. Amen.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1TH/3-ace253233781eeed2c1bbb99060260d0.mp3?version_id=72—

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— do so even more.

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

3 For this is God’s will,your sanctification:that you abstainfrom sexual immorality,

4 so that each of you knows how to control his own bodyin sanctification and honor,

5 not with lustful desires,like the Gentiles who don’t know God.

6 This means one must not transgress against and defraudhis brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses,as we also previously told and warned you.

7 For God has not called us to impuritybut to sanctification.

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

Loving and Working

9 About brotherly love: You don’t need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by Godto love one another.

10 In fact, you are doing this toward all the brothers in the entire region of Macedonia.But we encourage you, brothers, to do so even more,

11 to seek to lead a quiet life,to mind your own business,and to workwith your own hands, as we commanded you,

12 so that you may walk properlyin the presence of outsidersand not be dependent on anyone.

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.

14 Since we believe that Jesus died and roseagain,in the same way God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep throughJesus.

15 For we say this to you by a revelation from the Lord:We who are still alive at the Lord’s comingwill certainly have no advantage overthose who have fallen asleep.

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,with the archangel’svoice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christwill rise first.

17 Thenwe who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the cloudsto meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord.

18 Therefore encourageone another with these words.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1TH/4-aff000e53362afea6e05733acdfde5f9.mp3?version_id=72—

The Day of the Lord

1 About the times and the seasons:Brothers, you do not need anything to be written to you.

2 For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lordwill come just like a thiefin the night.

3 When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destructioncomes 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.

5 For you are all sons of light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.

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 seriousand put the armorof faith and love on our chests, and put on a helmetof the hope of salvation.

9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our LordJesus Christ,

10 who died for us,so that whether we are awake or asleep,we will live together with Him.

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 recognitionto 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 peaceamong yourselves.

14 And we exhort you, brothers:warn those who are irresponsible,comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patientwith everyone.

15 See to it that no one repays evil for evilto anyone,but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.

16 Rejoicealways!

17 Pray constantly.

18 Give thanks in everything,

for this is God’s willfor you in Christ Jesus.

19 Don’t stifle the Spirit.

20 Don’t despise prophecies,

21 but test all things.

Hold on to what is good.

22 Stay awayfrom every kind of evil.

23 Now may the God of peaceHimself sanctify you completely. And may your spirit,soul, and body be kept sound and blameless for the comingof our LordJesus Christ.

24 He who callsyouis 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.

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

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1TH/5-4942fd18ec87fe9e72b54792244e6f7b.mp3?version_id=72—

Greeting

1 Paul, Silvanus,and Timothy:

To the church of the Thessaloniansin God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s Judgment and Glory

3 We must always thank God for you, brothers. This is right, since your faith is flourishing and the loveeach one of you has for one anotheris increasing.

4 Therefore, we ourselves boastabout you among God’s churches — about your endurance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you endure.

5 It is a clear evidence of God’s righteousjudgmentthat you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also are suffering,

6 since it is righteous for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you

7 and to reward with rest you who are afflicted, along with us. This will take place at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with His powerful angels,

8 taking vengeance with flaming fireon those who don’t know Godand on those who don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destructionfrom the Lord’s presenceand from His glorious strength

10 in that day when He comesto be glorifiedby His saintsand to be admired by all those who have believed, because our testimony among you was believed.

11 And in view of this, we always pray for you that our God will consider you worthy of His calling,and will, by His power, fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith,

12 so that the nameof our Lord Jesus will be glorifiedby you, and you by Him,according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2TH/1-d0953e79e6cd25f71a47890b33ef0b20.mp3?version_id=72—

The Man of Lawlessness

1 Now concerning the comingof our LordJesus Christ and our being gathered to Him: We ask you, brothers,

2 not to be easily upset in mind or troubled, either by a spiritor by a message or by a letter as if from us, alleging that the Day of the Lordhas come.

3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasycomes first and the man of lawlessnessis revealed, the son of destruction.

4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called godor object of worship,so that he sitsin God’s sanctuary,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.

7 For the mystery of lawlessnessis 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 mouthand 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,

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.

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— those who did not believethe truth but enjoyed unrighteousness.

Stand Firm

13 But we must always thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginningGod has chosenyou for salvation through sanctificationby the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

14 He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the gloryof our Lord Jesus Christ.

15 Therefore, brothers, stand firmand hold to the traditions you were taught,either by our message or by our letter.

16 May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has lovedus and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace,

17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2TH/2-559e2b844b3a4fddc19ab29c4668d389.mp3?version_id=72—

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,

2 and that we may be deliveredfrom wicked and evil men, for not all have faith.

3 But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen and guard you from the evil one.

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.

Warning against Irresponsible Behavior

6 Now we command you, brothers, in the nameof our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brotherwho walks irresponsibly and not according to the traditionreceivedfrom us.

7 For you yourselves know how you must imitateus: We were not irresponsible among you;

8 we did not eatanyone’s foodfree of charge;instead, we laboredand struggled,workingnight and day, so that we would not be a burdento any of you.

9 It is not that we don’t have the rightto support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitateus.

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.”

11 For we hear that there are some among you who walk irresponsibly, not working at all, but interfering with the work of others.

12 Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ that quietly working, they may eat their own food.

13 Brothers, do not grow wearyin 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 peaceHimself give you peace always in every way.The Lord be with all of you.

17 This greeting is in my own hand— 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.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2TH/3-01be96ce7f3d1fcb59f017ad6a52505c.mp3?version_id=72—