Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians
1Thessalonians 1
1. Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the congregation of the Thessalonians, in God the Father and Lord, Jesus Christ, with blessings upon you and peace.
2. We confess on your behalf to God in every season, and we remember you in fervent prayers on our knees,
3. And we confirm before God the Father the works of your faith and the labors of your love and the Hope you proffered in our Lord Jesus Christ.
4. For we know your choice, beloved brethren of God.
5. Because of our proffering of the Hope to you was not in words alone, except with power and the holy Spirit, and as an unconditional favor.* You also know how we have acted among you and for your sake.
6. And you resemble us and our Lord, as you received the Manifestation under great persecution and with the holy Spirit of joy,
7. And you resemble all the faithful that are in Macedonia and Achaia,
8. For the Manifestation of our Lord was heard from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, except in every country your faith in God was heard, so as there is no need to say anything about it.
9. For these were our messengers as we were welcomed by you, as you turned away from the submission to idols toward God and worked for the living and true God,
10. As you held on to His Son from heaven, to Jesus who rose from the dead,* who shall deliver us from the coming wrath.
*1:5 Lit. Ar. id.: "True dispensation."
*1:10 Lit. Ar. id.: "House of the dead."
1 Thessalonians 2
1. And you know it, brethren, that we did not take your welcoming us for granted.*
2. Except beforehand we experienced sorrows and were cursed, as you know in Philippi, and then with much bravery, we spoke to you by the grace of God about Christ's message of Hope.
3. The bravery of our heart was neither for the sake of destruction, nor committing evil, nor as an act of treason.
4. Except, in as much as we depend on God that our preaching about His Hope is believable, we shall speak, therefore, not as to flatter humanity, except so as God may bring our hearts in harmony [with theirs].*
5. For neither was the worth [of our preaching] expressed by coddling speech, as you well know, nor was our witness to God in form of some favoritism.*
6. And we did not ask the praise of humanity, neither yours, nor theirs, while we could have asked to be honored,* being apostles of Christ.
7. On the contrary, we were gentle among you and like a nursing mother who showers her children with love,
8. Likewise we loved you and were delighted to give you not only the Hope of God's [Kingdom,] except also our very souls, because you are indeed beloved.
9. For we recognized that you are our brethren, as to be lovingly supportive and we labored by the work of our hands night and day so as not to be a burden on a single one of you.
10. You are witnesses, and so is God, how we preached to you the Hope of God's [Kingdom] in purity and righteousness, and how we had no problem with all the believers,
11. Whereas you know, with each one of you, we were like a father with his children, praying and asking for what was in your hearts,
12. And we testified to you that you should strive according to what pleases God, He who called you to His Kingdom and glory.
13. Because of that we also confess faithfully to God, so that the Manifestation of God that you received from us was not like you were receiving the manifestation of humanity, except like it is really the true Manifestation of God, and that is instilled in you, the faithful ones, by deeds.
14. You brethren, however, resemble the churches of God in Judea, those Jews who have given themselves to Jesus Christ,* so that you should likewise preach [the Kingdom] to your generation, just as they do to the other Jews.
15. Those who killed our Lord Jesus Christ and their own prophets, and they rejected us and did not praise God, and thus they created an obstacle to all human beings.
16. So as to stop us from speaking to the nations that they may Live, so that they may quit their sinning in every season. The wrath, however, shall be upon them until the End.
17. We, brethren, were then orphans only for a brief while,* in appearance though and not in our hearts, and we endeavored moreover to see in your faces a reflection of that great love.
18. And I, Paul, wished to come to you once or twice,* but Satan put me off.
19. For what is our hope, our joy and the wreath of our pride? If not your imminent presence before our Lord Jesus Christ when He comes again.
20. For you are our glory and our joy.
*2:1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech: "In emptiness."
*2:4 Lit. Ar. expression: "Bind our hearts."
*2:5 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Through cause of rendition."
*2:6 Lit. Ar. expression: "Found to be heavy," or "...dignified."
*2:14 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Those who are in Jesus Christ."
*2:17 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Season of the hour." A reference to the three days when Jesus was in the tomb.
*2:18 Lit. Ar. id.: "A season or two."
1 Thessalonians 3
1. And because we could not resist it, we decided to stay in Athens by ourselves,
2. And we are sending you Timothy, our brother and the servant of God, and our helper in preaching the Hope of Christ, so as he may send you out, and pray on behalf of your faith,
3. So as not one* of you is cut down as a result of these persecutions, for you know indeed that it was just for that He consecrated us.
4. For even though we were with you, we came forth and told you that we were destined to suffer persecution as you know it was going to happen.
5. Because of that I also could not resist it, until I sent to find out about your faithfulness, so as the Tempter should not tempt you, and our efforts should be in vain.
6. Now then, since Timothy has come to us after assisting you, and gave us hope regarding your faithfulness and your love, and [told us] that you always remember our blessings for you, and that you are equally serving to point this out, as we are also doing this [regarding you.]
7. Because of this we are beloved through you, brethren, despite all our shortcomings and tribulations; because of your faithfulness.
8. And now our eternal life is assured as you grow steadfast in our Lord.
9. For what religious ceremony can we find with which to repay God on your behalf for all the joy we feel because of you?
10. If not for the fact that before God we fervently seek by day and by night to see your faces and develop what is missing in your faith.
11. He, however, our Father and Lord God Jesus Christ shall open up our path to you.*
12. And He shall nurture and increase your love of one for the other, and your love for every human being, just as we love you,
13. And He shall uplift your hearts without contention, in holiness before our Father God in His coming as our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
*3:3 Lit. Ar. id.: "Human being."
*3:11 Lit. Ar. expression: "Make our road to you."
1 Thessalonians 4
1. Therefore, brethren, we pray on your behalf and we seek you out in our Lord Jesus, so as you received from us, likewise it is your duty to go forth and glorify God, so that you may multiply greatly.
2. For you know what commandments we gave you through our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. For this is the will of God: your holiness; and that you may be rid of all fornication,
4. And that each one of you* may earn your living* with holiness and honor,
5. And not through greed,* like the other nations, those who know not God.
6. And let no human being pass through bribes and cheating their brother [toward unfair gains,] because our Lord takes notice of all these, as was foretold to you from before* and was attested to.
7. For God did not call you to demonic practices, except to holiness.
8. Therefore, whoever oppresses another, is not oppressing the human being, except God, He who has give through you His holy Spirit.
9. Regarding brotherly love, however, there is no need to write to you, because by your very triune natures you are trained by God to love one another.
10. Also, you should treat all the brethren in Macedonia likewise. I pray then, that you, brethren, should increase.
11. And that you should endeavor to be peaceful and keep your Covenants, and work with your own hands, as you were commanded,
12. That you may strive systematically apart from outsiders and that you may not have to depend on any of them.
13. I wish that you should know, brethren, that regarding those who repose [in Christ,] do not cry for them like they were people with no Hope.
14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, likewise God will bring along those who repose in Jesus together with Him.
15. This we tell you through the Manifestation of our Lord, that those of us who are raptured at our Lord's coming, those that are living [at that time,] will not be separated from those who repose [in Christ.]
16. Because our Lord by His command and through the voice of the archangel* and by the trumpet* of God that descends from heaven, [shall command that] those who died in Christ to rise beforehand.
17. And then those of us who are living at that time, shall be raptured together with them and be lifted in the clouds as one body and we shall preside with our Lord in the air. And we shall be thus with our Lord in every season.
18. Be like this then, uplifting each other's heart by such words.
*4:4.1 Lit. Ar. id.: "Human human."
*4:4.2 Lit. Ar. expression: "Earn your plate."
*4:5 Lit. Ar. figure of speech: "Way of desire."
*4:6 Lit. Ar. id.: "Before season."
*4:16.1 Lit. Ar. id.: "Head of the angels."
*4:16.2 Lit. Ar. id.: "Horn."
1 Thessalonians 5
1. Regarding the season, then, and the time, brethren, you do not need to be written.
2. For you truly know how the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
3. They will be saying, "We have peace and tranquility," and then suddenly from the calm there shall rise against them the desolation, like the labor pains of the pregnant woman, and they shall not be able to prepare themselves for the event.
4. You, however, live not in darkness, brethren, that that Day should find you like a thief.
5. For you are children of the Light and the children of the Day, and you are neither the children of the Night, nor of the darkness.
6. Sleep not, therefore, like the others, except be alert and mindful.
7. For those who sleep, it is by the night that they sleep, and those who are drunk, it is by the night that they are drunk.
8. We, however, are children of the Day, alert in our vision and deployed in the battle for faithfulness and love, and consecrated with the shield of hope of life everlasting.
9. Because God did not consecrate us for the wrath, except for the achievement of everlasting life in our Lord Jesus Christ.
10. He Who died on our behalf, whether we were awake or in repose, that we may be resurrected in Him as one body.
11. Because of that we should uplift each other's heart and support one another, such as you are doing.
12. We beg you, brethren, that you may know those who cherish you and stand before our Lord on your behalf,* and teach you,
13. Who appreciate you with great love, and because of your labors, they are at peace with you.
14. We beg you, brethren, get rid of the lazy, hearten the little souls, bear the burden of the stricken, and extend your spirit toward every human being.
15. And beware that none* of you should repay evil with evil, except at all times* seek* after what is good for each other and toward every human being.
16. Be joyous in every season.
17. And pray without ceasing.
18. And let your confession be evident in everything you do, for that is the will of God through Jesus Christ in you.
19. Do not extinguish the spirit.
20. Do not denigrate the prophets.
21. Regard everything seriously and choose what is best.
22. And run away from all those who sow evil.
23. Whereas He is the God of peace Who has sanctified you thoroughly, your entire spirit, soul and body He guards without discord until His coming, our very Lord Jesus Christ.
24. Faithful is He who called you, Who does all this.
25. Brethren, pray over us.
26. Say shalom to all our brethren with a holy kiss.
27. I commend you to our Lord, that you read this Letter to all the brethren saints.
28. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, amen.(The end of the First Letter to the Thessalonians that was written from Athens.)
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*5:12 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Stand by your faces in our Lord."
*5:15.1 Lit. Ar. id.: "No human."
*5:15.2 Lit. Ar. id.: "In every season."
*5:15.3 Lit. Ar. id.: "Run after."
Translated by Victor Alexander © 2000