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in all things, your masters ac-, faithful and beloved brother, cording to the flesh; not with who is one of you. They will eye-service, as men-pleasers, make known to you all things but in singleness of heart, fear- which are done here. ing the Lord: 23 and whatsoever ye do, perform it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men; 24 knowing, that from the Lord ye will receive the reward of the inheritance: [for] ye serve Christ as your Lord. 25 But he who doth wrong, will receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner, and Mark son to the sister of Barnabas, concerning whom ye have received commandments, (if he come to you receive him,) 11 and Jesus called Justus, who are of the circumcision, salute you. These have been my only fellow-labourers as to the kingdom of God; and they have been a comfort to me.

CH. IV. 1 Masters, give to your servants that which is 12 Epaphras, who is one of just and equal; knowing that you, a servant of Christ, salutye also have a Master in hea-eth you, always earnestly striving for you in his prayers, that

ven.

2 PERSEVERE in prayer, ye may stand perfect and comwatching therein, with thanks-plete in all the will of God. giving; 3 praying at the same 13 For I bear him witness that time for us also, that God he hath a great concern for you, would open to us a door of and for those at Laodicea, and utterance, to speak the mystery for those at Hierapolis. 14 of Christ, for which I am even Luke, the beloved physician, in bonds; 4 that I may make it and Demas, salute you. 15 manifest, as I ought to speak. Salute the brethren, who are at 5 Walk in wisdom towards Laodicea; and Nymphas, and those who are without, redeem- the church which assembleth in ing the time. 6 Let your dis- his house. course be always well-pleasing, seasoned with salt, so that ye may know how ye ought to answer every one.

16 And when this epistle hath been read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus; "Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fully discharge it."

7 ALL things concerning me, Tychicus will declare to you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord; 8 whom I have sent to you for this purpose, that he may know your 18 THE salutation by the affairs, and comfort your hearts; hand of me Paul. Remember 9 together with Onesimus, al my bonds. Favour be with you.

THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE
THESSALONIANS.

CHAP. I. 1 PAUL, and Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ; favour be to you, and peace [from God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Achaia; but [also] in every place hath your faith towards God spread abroad, so that we need not to speak any thing concerning it.

9 For they themselves declare of us, what kind of entering in among you we had, and how ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God; 10 and to look for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivereth us from the approaching wrath.

CH. II. 1 FOR yourselves, brethren, know that our entering in among you was not in vain: 2 but even after we had before suffered, and had been shamefully treated, as ye know, at Philippi, we had freedom of speech through our God to preach to you the gospel of God with much earnestness.

2 WE give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father; 4 knowing, brethren, beloved of God, the choice of you* by him. 5 For the gospel preached by us came not to you in words only, but also in power, and in the holy spirit, and in full confirmation; as ye know what manner of persons we were among you for your sake. 6 And ye became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having receiv-ness, ed the word amidst much affliction, with joy in the holy spirit: 7 so that ye have been examples to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.

8 For from you the word of the Lord hath sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and

3 For our exhortation was not of error, nor of unclean

nor in guile: 4 but as we were approved of God to be entrusted with the gospel, we so speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who proveth our hearts.

5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know: nor a pretence of covet

* "that God hath chosen you gentiles to be his peculiar people. 2 Thess. ii. 13." Newcome.

ousness, (God is witness :) 6 own countrymen, even as they nor from men sought we glory, have from the Jews; 15 who either from you or from others; both killed the Lord Jesus, (when we might have used and the prophets, and have authority, as apostles of Christ:) persecuted us, and please not but we were gentle among God, and are against all men : you, as a nursing mother cher-16 forbidding us to speak to isheth her children. 8 Being the gentiles, that they may be thus affectionately desirous of you, we are willing to bestow on you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own lives, because ye are become dear

to us.

9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and toil: how working night and day, that we might not be burdensome to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and righteously, and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you who believe: 11 as ye know how we exhorted, and com. forted, and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 12 that ye should walk in a manner worthy of God, who calleth you to his glorious kingdom.

13 For this cause also we thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received the word of God which ye heard from us, ye embraced it, not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which also powerfully worketh in you who believe.

14 For ye, brethren, are become imitators of the churches of God in Judæa, which are in Christ Jesus for ye also have suffered like things from your

saved: so that they fill up the measure of their sins always : and now in the end, anger is coming upon them.

17 NOW we, brethren, having been bereaved of you for a short time, in presence, not in heart, have abundantly endeavoured with great desire to see your face. 18 Wherefore we have been willing to come to you (even I Paul) both once and again; but the adversary hindered us.

19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus [Christ] at his coming? 20 for ye are indeed our glory and our joy.

CH. III. 1 Wherefore, being no longer able to bear our solicitude, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; 2 and sent Timothy our brother, and fellow-labourer, together with God, in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort [you] concerning your faith; 3 that no one should be moved by these mine afflictions: (for yourselves know that we are appointed to this: 4 for, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we should suffer affliction; even as it hath come to pass, and ye know.) 5 For this cause, also,

being no longer able to bear | how ye ought to walk, and to

my solicitude, I sent to know your faith; fearing lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labour might be in vain.

please God, ye would abound more and more. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

3 For this is the will of God,

6 But now, when Timothy came to us from you, and even your sanctification; that brought us glad tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have a good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, as we also do, to see you; 7 for this cause, brethren, we were comforted concerning you in all our affliction and distress, even by your faith: 8 for now, if ye stand firmly in the Lord, we live indeed.

ye abstain from fornication; 4 that every one of you know how to keep his body* in sanctification and honour; 5 (not in the passion of desire, even as the nations that know not God;) 6 so as not to go beyond and overreach his brother in this matter: because the Lord is an avenger of all such, as we have also formerly told you, and testified.

9 For what thanks can we return to God because of you, 7 For God hath not called for all the joy with which we us to uncleanness, but to sancrejoice for your sakes before tification. 8 He therefore who our God; 10 night and day despiseth, despiseth not man, praying very exceedingly, that but God; who hath also given we might see your face, and to us his holy spirit. might perfect that which re- 9 NOW as concerning bromaineth behind of your faith?therly kindness, ye need not 11 Now may our God and that I write to you: for ye yourFather himself, and our Lord selves are taught of God to Jesus Christ, direct our way to love one another: 10 and inyou. 12 And may [the Lord] deed ye do this towards all the make you to increase and brethren who are in all Maceabound in love one towards an-donia. But we beseech you, other, and towards all men, even as we do towards you: 13 that he may establish your hearts in holiness unblameable before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus [Christ] with all his saints.

brethren, that ye abound in love still more; 11 and that ye earnestly strive to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your [own] hands, as we formerly commanded you; 12 that ye may walk becomCH. IV. 1 FINALLY, then we ingly towards those who are beseech you, brethren, and ex-without, and that ye may have hort you in the Lord Jesus, need of nothing.

that, as ye have received of us 13 NOW we would not have

Gr. vessel. Newcome.

you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are fallen asleep; that ye grieve not, even as others, who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died, and arose; so also, we believe that God, through Jesus, will bring with him also those who are fallen asleep.

15 For this we say to you, by the word of the Lord, that we who shall be alive, and who shall remain to the appearance of the Lord, shall not be before those who are fallen asleep.

4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that the last day should overtake you as a thief. 5 For all ye are sons of light, and sons of the day; we are not of the night and of darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, even as others; but let us watch, and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep by night; and those who are drunken, are drunken by night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober; and put on the breast-plate of faith and love, and, for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ; 10 who died for us,

16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God and the dead in that, : Christ will first be raised: 17 afterward, we who shall be alive, and who shall remain, shall be caught up together with them in clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so, we shall ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore, comfort ye one another with these words.*

CH. V. 1 BUT Concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write to you. 2 For yourselves well know that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. 3 When men shall say, "Peace and safety;" then sudden destruction will come upon them, as pangs upon a woman with child: and they shall not

escape.

whether we are waking or sleeping at that day, we shall live together with him. 11 Wherefore, comfort each other, and edify one another, even as ye do.

12 NOW we beseech you, brethren, to acknowledge those who labour among you, and preside over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for the sake of their office. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we exhort you, brethren, admonish those who are disorderly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be long-suffering towards all.

15 See that none render evil for evil to any; but always follow that which is good, [both]

"Observe here, that all the consolation, which the apostle administers to the bereaved and mourning Thessalonians, is derived from the Christian hope of a resurrection, and from what would happen at that awful and glorious period. He takes no notice of an intervening state of perception and felicity of which their deceased friends were even then in possession. A circumstance which the apostle could hardly have omitted, had the existence of such a state been revealed to him." Im. Ver. note.

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