1 Thessalonians

Chapter 1

¹ {I,} Paul, {am writing this letter}. Silas and Timothy {are with me. We are sending this letter} to {you,} the assembly of believers in the Messiah in the city of Thessalonica, who are united to God the Father and the Lord Jesus the Messiah. {May God continue to be} kind to you and make you peaceful.

² We pray for you very often. {When we do,} we always thank God for you all. ³ We thank our God and Father for the work that you do because you trust {in him}. We thank him for the way that you energetically help people because you love {them}. We thank him for the way that you patiently endure because you confidently expect our Lord Jesus the Messiah {to keep his promises}. ⁴ {We also thank God because} we know that he loves you, {our} fellow believers in the Messiah, and chose you {to become his people}. ⁵ {We know that God chose you} because when we told you the good news {about Jesus}, it was not only with words, but the Holy Spirit also powerfully worked {through us}. He also strongly assured {us that he had chosen you}. In the same way, you know what kind of people we are because when we were with you, everything that we did was to benefit you. ⁶ As for you, you proceeded to live as we do and as the Lord {Jesus} lived. When you believed the message {of the good news}, people caused you to suffer {because you did that. But even though you were suffering,} the Holy Spirit caused you to rejoice. ⁷ Because all of the people who trust {in the Messiah} throughout the provinces of Macedonia and Achaia heard {of how you remained joyful while people made you suffer}, they wanted to also live as you do. ⁸ In fact, many people have heard you tell the message about the Lord {Jesus}. Then they also have proclaimed the message to other people who live throughout Macedonia and Achaia provinces. Even beyond that, people who live in many far-away places have heard about how you trust in God. As a result, we do not need to tell people anything {about what God has done for you}. ⁹ These same people {who live far from you} are also telling {others} about how you {warmly} welcomed us. They also are telling {others} that you stopped worshipping {non-living} statues of false gods so that you could worship and obey the living God. He is the {only} real God. ¹⁰ {They} also {are telling others that you stopped worshipping the false gods} so that you could eagerly wait for God’s Son Jesus {to return to earth} from heaven. {As you know,} God resurrected Jesus after he died, and Jesus is the one who will rescue us {who believe in him} at the time when God will punish people {for their sins}.

Chapter 2

¹ {Our} fellow believers in the Messiah, you are well aware that the time we spent with you was quite productive. ² As you know, people in the city of Philippi previously caused us to suffer and abused us. But, our God made us courageous to speak his good news to you, despite how hard we struggled {against those who tried to stop us from} speaking God’s good news to you. ³ Certainly, {when} we encouraged {you to believe} God’s good news, we did} not {try} to convince you to believe an incorrect message. {We were} not selfishly motivated. {We did} not {try} to deceive {you with our words}. ⁴ Actually, God has examined us and approved that we are trustworthy to speak his good news. So, we speak God’s good news because he approves us. When we speak God’s good news, we are not {trying} to please people. Instead, {we are trying} to please God. {This is because God is the one} who {constantly} examines what motivates us to speak {his good news}. ⁵ In fact, when we previously came, we did not flatter you. {We are} not greedily motivated, so we did not need to say things to try to hide greediness from you. You know {this is true}––{and} God confirms it! ⁶ {We did} not {hope that} people would honor {us–}not you or others{–} ⁷ {Yet,} we could have made you submit to us, since we are the Messiah's authorized representatives. Instead, we acted as gentle as infants while we were with you. We acted {as gentle} as a {nurturing} mother {who} comforts her own children. ⁸ Since we are so fond of you, we delighted to share God's good news with you. Not only that, but {we} also {delighted to share} our own lives {with you}. {This is} because we started to love you {so much}. ⁹ Certainly {our} fellow believers, you remember how hard we labored. We kept working during the night and the day. This was so that we would not have to ask any of you to help us financially. Even though we were working, we {still} proclaimed God's good news to you. ¹⁰ Both you and God testify to how faithfully, and righteously, and innocently we behaved toward {all of} you who trust {in God}. ¹¹ Each one of you knows this personally: {we behaved} the same way {towards you,} as a father {behaves towards} his own children. ¹² {We kept} urging and encouraging and testifying that all of you should live the way that God wants his people to live! This is because God {is the one} who {keeps} inviting you to enter his own glorious kingdom.

¹³ We also continually thank God for this reason: you accepted God's message when we reported it to you. You did not consider it to be merely a human message. {You accepted} the message as if God sent it himself. And the message did actually come from God! {We} also {constantly thank God} that for those of you who trust in him, God is effectively changing you to live like his people should. ^14-15 Certainly {our} fellow believers in the Messiah, you imitated how God's assemblies in Judea suffered. {Like you, they are also} united to Jesus the Messiah. In fact, you also suffered the same things from your fellow countrymen, just as the Judean believers in the Messiah did from the Jews in Judea as well. Those Jews in Judea both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets. These unbelieving Jews also severely mistreated us {apostles}. God is thoroughly displeased with them. They are also enemies of the whole human race! ¹⁶ The unbelieving Jews keep trying to stop us from telling God’s good news to those people who are not Jews. These unbelieving Jews do not want those who are not Jews {to hear} us tell the good news that can save those who are not Jews. These unbelieving Jews continue to sin so much, that these sins are like a container that is almost full. Indeed, when they least expect it, God will punish them at the end {of time}!

¹⁷ {Our} fellow believers, when we were far away it deprived {us} from seeing you for a short time. But, although we were far away from you, we did not become less affectionate {towards you}. We became even more eager and deeply desired to see you in person. ¹⁸ Indeed, we wanted to visit you. I, Paul, even {tried to come} two times. But, {when we tried to come} Satan opposed us. ¹⁹ We wanted to visit because we are so confident {about your trust in God. Being in your presence} also makes us joyful. {Since you are so faithful to God,} we are sure we have achieved what God wanted us to do. {Certainly, we are} also {convinced that we will all be together} in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes {again}! ²⁰ Because of you, we glorify {God} and rejoice!

Chapter 3

¹ So then, when we {felt like we} could not possibly wait any longer, we thought it was appropriate for only Silas and I to stay behind in the city of Athens. ² Yet, we sent Timothy {to you}. He works alongside us and serves God by {proclaiming} the good news about the Messiah. {Silas and I sent him} in order to support and encourage you to remain faithful {to God}. ³ {We also sent Timothy to you} so that when people afflict us {apostles} are afflicted, it would not cause any of you to waver {in how you trust God}. You are well aware that {God} determined that people would afflict us {apostles}. ⁴ In fact, even while we {apostles} were visiting you, we kept warning you ahead of time. We warned you that God determined for people to afflict us {apostles}. You are well aware that this is exactly what occurred. {So, you know that what we told you is true!} ⁵ Again this is why, when I {felt like I} could not possibly wait any longer, I sent {Timothy to you. I was concerned} to learn if you were still trusting {in God. I was concerned that} somehow Satan tempted you {to stop trusting in God. If you would have stopped trusting in God} then all of the hard work we accomplished {among you} would turn out to be useless!

⁶ Timothy recently returned to Silas and I from his visit with you. He told us the good news about how much you trust and love {God. He also told us} that whenever you think about us it makes you happy. {He told us} how much you desire to visit us. We have that same desire too! ⁷ {Our} fellow believers in the Messiah, during the whole time people abused and afflicted us–God encouraged us about you. We were encouraged {when learning from Timothy} that you {still} trust {in God}. ⁸ Indeed, we feel revived whenever you continue {to trust} in the Lord {Jesus}! ⁹ Indeed, we cannot thank God enough for what he has done for you! {When we pray} to our God, we abundantly rejoice because of {how much} you {trust in him}! ¹⁰ We constantly and excessively beg God {that we would be able} to see you in person. {We} also {desire} to help you increase how much trust {in God}!

¹¹ Now, we pray to God our Father, and to our Lord Jesus, that they will allow us to visit you {again}! ¹² {We} also pray that the Lord {Jesus} will cause you to flourish in loving each other. {We} pray that he will cause you to increase more and more in how you love all people. This is exactly the way we love you! ¹³ {We pray that our Lord Jesus} will strengthen how much you desire {him. We pray that our Lord Jesus} will enable you to live in a way that God our Father considers faultless for those who belong to him. {We pray all of these things, so that you will be ready} when our Lord Jesus comes {a second time}, bringing all those who belong to him. Amen!

Chapter 4

^1-2 {Our} fellow believers in the Messiah, here is a summary {of this letter}. Since we are the spokespersons of the Lord Jesus–we urge and encourage you. Keep putting the teachings you received from us into practice. This is how it is necessary for you to live and to please God. Then you will excel even more. Because you are aware of the commands the Lord Jesus told us to give you.

³ Certainly, God desires for you to live in a way that demonstrates that you completely belong to him: {He desires} that you refrain from committing {any} sexually immoral acts. ⁴ {God desires} that each one of you knows how to control his own body. {He desires that you} treat your bodies like they belong to God and to honor them. ⁵ {You must not use your body} to gratify your passionate lusts. This is how the pagans live who do not know God. ⁶ {God also desires} that no one violates and exploits his fellow believer in the Messiah like this. This is because the Lord {Jesus} will avenge for all these {sexually immoral} acts. {This will happen} to you exactly as we previously said and strongly warned. ⁷ Certainly God does not summon us {into his glorious kingdom} for the purpose of impure {living}, but {so that we would live} like those who belong to him. ⁸ For this very reason, whoever {continues to} reject {what we have just said}, does not reject human teaching{–}but God himself–God who {continually} gives his Holy Spirit to all of you!

⁹ Now, there is {really} no need {for anyone} to write to {remind} you how fellow believers in the Messiah should act affectionately toward each other. This is because God {personally} teaches all of you {how} to love each other. ¹⁰ Certainly you are {already} acting lovingly to all the fellow believers in the Messiah throughout Macedonia. Yet, our fellow believers in the Messiah, we {want to} urge all of you to excel in loving {each other} even more! ¹¹ {We} also {urge you} to aspire to live peacefully. {We urge you} to keep busy with your own matters. {We urge you} to focus on working to earn what you need to live. Do what we already commanded you. ¹² {We urge you to do these things,} so that you can set a good example towards those who do not believe in the Messiah {with your modest way of life.} Then you will not have to depend {on others} to provide what you need {to live}.

¹³ {Our} fellow believers in the Messiah, we want to be certain that you are aware about {what will happen to} believers in the Messiah who are dead. This is so that you do not grieve {for believers in the Messiah} who have died. The rest of humanity {grieves} because they possess no confidence {about the resurrection of the dead}. ¹⁴ Certainly, we {believers in the Messiah} trust that Jesus died and resurrected. This is why {we also trust that when Jesus returns to Earth again,} God will bring back alive those who are united to Jesus through death. {They will return} together with Jesus. ¹⁵ In fact, what we are now telling you is a message from the Lord {Jesus himself}. When the Lord {Jesus} comes again{, all believers in the Messiah will greet him}. But, those {believers in the Messiah} who have {already} died will certainly greet him first, then we {believers in the Messiah} who are still alive. ¹⁶ The Lord {Jesus} himself will give the command. The chief angel will shout. The trumpet of God will blast. {This is how} the Lord {Jesus} will come down from heaven. Then {all} the dead who are united to the Messiah will be the first to resurrect. ¹⁷ After that, God will snatch up all of us believers in the Messiah who are still alive, so that we can meet the Lord {Jesus} in the air. Both groups of believers in the Messiah will meet together on the clouds. This is how we will remain together with the Lord {Jesus} forever! ¹⁸ As a result, you must encourage each other with this message!

Chapter 5

¹ {Our} fellow believers in the Messiah, we do not {really} need to write {anything} to you about the specific time {of our Lord's return}. ² This is because you yourselves already know accurately about the time when the Lord {Jesus} will come back. You also know that he will come {unexpectedly}, like when a robber comes at night. ³ At a time when people are saying, “{We are} safe and secure!” Then suddenly {God's} destruction comes to overwhelm them! It will be similar to a pregnant woman overwhelmed by labor pains. Those people can never escape! ⁴ But you, {our} fellow believers in the Messiah, you are not people who live spiritually unaware, so that the day {of the Lord} would surprise you in the same way as a thief. ⁵ {Since} you are all God's children, {you should live ready for Jesus to return.} We are not {Satan's children,} who live spiritually unaware. ⁶ So, this is why, {as God's children} we must be vigilant. {We must} not {live spiritually unaware} like the rest of humanity. Instead, we must stay alert and remain attentive, {expecting Jesus to return}. ⁷ It is well known, that when people sleep, it is {usually} at night. And when people get drunk, it is {usually} at night. ⁸ But {we do not live like these spiritually unaware people.} {Since} we are God's children, we must remain attentive. We must fully arm ourselves {like soldiers}. Faithful love {towards God should cover our chests,} like a breastplate. Confidence {that God} will save us {should fully protect our heads,} like a helmet.

⁹ Since {we are his people,} God did not destine that he would judge us. Instead, {he destined} that our Lord, Jesus the Messiah, would preserve and save us. ¹⁰ Jesus died in our place, so that we would live {forever} with him. {This is true,} whether we are alive or dead {when he returns}. ¹¹ As a result, continue your practice of encouraging each other and supporting each one!

¹² {Our} fellow believers in the Messiah, we request that you give recognition to your spiritual leaders, as {you would} to the Lord {Jesus}. They continually work hard among you, warning and instructing you. ¹³ Because {of how hard} they work {for you,} we also request {that} you lovingly show the highest consideration to your spiritual leaders. Keep living peacefully with each other.

¹⁴ {Our} fellow believers in the Messiah, we now urge that you warn and instruct those who live inappropriately. {We also urge that} you cheer up those who are discouraged. {We also urge that} you support those who are weak. {We also urge that} you live patiently with everyone. ¹⁵ If someone treats you badly, make sure that you do not treat them badly in return. Instead, whenever {you can,} actively look for ways to treat all people kindly.

¹⁶ Be joyful all the time! ¹⁷ Constantly pray! ¹⁸ Keep giving thanks to God in every situation! Indeed, this is what God desires for all of you who are united to Jesus the Messiah.

¹⁹ Do not hinder the {Holy} Spirit {from working among you}! ²⁰ Do not {show} scorn {toward} prophecies! ²¹ Keep evaluating all of them. Retain {only} what is excellent. ²² Refrain from {engaging in} anything {that could be} considered wicked!

²³ In summary, we pray that the peace-giving God will make you live like people who completely belong to him! We also pray that God will keep you completely innocent–for the time when our Lord Jesus the Messiah comes {back again}. ²⁴ The faithful God {continually} summons {all of} you {to completely belong to him. So,} he will also accomplish {everything you need}.

²⁵ {Our} fellow believers in the Messiah, we also ask that you keep praying on our behalf! ²⁶ When you meet with all believers in the Messiah, affectionately greet each other as is appropriate for those who belong to God. ²⁷ I want you to swear an oath to the Lord {Jesus}, that you will read this letter to all the believers in the Messiah {among you}! ²⁸ May our Lord Jesus the Messiah {continue to} act kindly toward all of you!