Written to the congregation in Thessaloniki, Greece (possibly in Aramaic) for Paul around 52-CE by either Timothy or Sylvanus.
Chapter 1
1 Paul,
Silvanus, and Timothy, to the called ones among the
Thessalonians who are in God the Father and in the
Lord Jesus the Anointed;
May you have peace and [God’s] loving
care.
2 We always thank God when we mention you in our prayers, 3 because we never forget your faithful work, loving labors, and endurance that comes from [your] confidence in our Lord Jesus the Anointed, [who stands] before our God and Father.
4 We know that He chose you, our brothers who are loved by God, 5 because the good news that we are preaching didn’t become just words to you, but power, Holy Breath, and a strong conviction, since you recognized what sort of men we became to you for your sakes.
6 Then you
started acting like us and like the Lord, because you accepted the word in the
joy of [God’s] Holy Breath despite many difficulties, 7 and you became examples to all the
believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
8
For you’ve preached the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but
your faith in God has been spread everywhere…
So we don’t have to say anything more,
9 since everyone is talking
about the way we first came to you and of how you turned away from idols, then
[turned toward] The God…
Yes, to slave for a God that is living and true!
10 And [they also speak of how you’re] awaiting
His Son from the heavens that He raised from the dead…
This Jesus, who has
drawn us to himself and away from the coming wrath.
Chapter 2
1 Brothers,
you know that our visit with you hasn’t gone without results.
2 For though we had just suffered and been
mistreated in Philippi (as you well know), our God gave us the boldness to
speak to you about the good news of our God… though with a lot of difficulty.
3 Because, the encouragement we give doesn’t
come from errors, uncleanness, or deceit.
4
And since God has proven us fit to be entrusted with the good news, we don’t
speak just to please men, but [to please] God, who proves what’s in our hearts.
5 So as God
is my witness (and as you well know), we didn’t come to you with flattering
words or as pretending to be in need of anything, 6 nor have we looked for glory from men…
No, not from you
or from anyone else (though as Apostles of the Anointed One, we are empowered
to be such a burden).
7 Rather,
we came to you as gently as a mother who feeds and cares for her children.
8 And because we cared for you so much, we
were not only happy to share the good news of God with you, but also our lives,
since you’ve become so dear to us.
9 Brothers,
surely you remember how we toiled and labored…
How we worked hard night and day
so we wouldn’t put an expensive burden on anyone,
as we preached the good news about The God to you.
10 And both you and God are our witnesses as to how loyal,
righteous, and free from blame we became to you believers.
11 For each of you must recognize how we
kept on encouraging you, consoling you, and testifying to you, just as a father
does to his own children.
12 [We
did this] so that you would keep on walking in a way that’s worthy of The God
who is calling you to His Kingdom and glory.
13 And we
keep on thanking God, because, when you accepted the word of The God that you
heard from us, you didn’t accept it as the word of men, but just as it
truthfully is…
The word of God, which is at work in you believers.
14 Yes, you became our imitators and our
brothers in the same way as those that were called by The God in
Judea and are in the Anointed Jesus, because you started suffering at the hands
of your own countrymen, just as the [Called Ones] did at the hands of the
Judeans 15 who killed the Lord Jesus
and the Prophets, and who persecuted us.
These men aren’t pleasing to God, for
they are opposing all men 16 by
trying to keep us from speaking to the gentiles so we can save them.
As the
result, they’re always filled to the brim with their sins, and in the end they will receive His wrath.
17
As for us, brothers;
We’re forced to be orphans to you for a short time… in
body, but not in our hearts, for we anxiously desire to see your faces.
18 That’s why I wanted to come to you (yes
me, Paul) on two different occasions.
However, the
Opposer kept on cutting us off. 19
For when our Lord Jesus arrives and we’re standing
before him; why would we have any hope, or joy, or a winner’s
garland of which we could boast, if not for you?
20 Because you… yes, you are our glory
and joy!
Chapter 3
1 So when
we couldn’t bear it any longer, we arranged to be sent to Athens alone.
2 Then we sent Timothy – our brother and
God’s servant in the good news about the Anointed One
– to strengthen and comfort you in your faith, 3 so that none of you would become discouraged by all these
difficulties.
However, you know that we were all appointed [to endure] things
such as this.
4 Yes, when we
were there with you, we warned you that we were about to suffer persecution (as
you well know is now happening).
5
And it’s because I just couldn’t stand [not knowing how you were faring] that I
sent [Timothy] to see how your faith [is bearing up], and whether the Tempter has put you to the test and brought all of
our hard work [on your behalf] to nothing.
6 But now
that Timothy has returned from you, he has brought us the good news about your
faithfulness and love;
And [he’s told us] how you keep us in your fond memories
and of how you’re always longing to see us, just as we are [longing to see]
you.
7 That’s why,
brothers, despite all our own needs and difficulties, we find comfort in you
and in the faith that you’re showing.
8
Because, if you’re standing firm in the Lord, we are alive!
9 So, what sort of thanks can we offer to
God for you in return for all the joy that we now have because of you before
our God?
10 Therefore, we will
keep on begging night and day to see your faces and to correct anything that
may be lacking in your faith.
11 Now, may
our God and Father Himself and our Lord Jesus straighten our road to you.
12 May the Lord cause you to grow and to
have more than enough love for each other and for all, just as we have for you.
13 And may he make your hearts
firm in holiness, without any blame before our God and Father when our Lord
Jesus appears with all of his Holy Ones…
May it be
so!
Chapter 4
1 Finally
brothers;
We ask and urge you by the Lord Jesus to follow in the path of the
things that you learned from us and to keep on pleasing God.
Although you’re already
doing this, you must do it even more so!
2
For you are aware of these orders that we gave to you through the Lord Jesus:
3 ‘It is God’s Will [for you] to be holy
and to stay free from sexual immorality.’
4 So you
must each learn how to take control of yourselves in holiness and honor…
5 Not in passionate desires like those of
the nations that don’t know God!
6
Nobody should overstep the limits or take advantage of his brothers in this
matter, for the Lord is the avenger in all of such things, just as we warned
you before and explained completely…
7
God didn’t call us to uncleanness, but to holiness!
8 So, those of you who [may choose to] disregard this [warning] aren’t disregarding a man, but The God who put His Holy Breath in you.
9 Yet, when it
comes to the matter of brotherly love; there’s no need for us to write you,
because God has taught you to love each other…
10 And you’re showing this to all the brothers throughout
Macedonia.
Nevertheless, we’re now urging you brothers to become even better at it!
11 Also, pledge yourselves to living
quietly, to minding your own business, and to working for a living (just as we’ve
instructed you to do), 12 so that
you will always be acting in an appropriate way toward those on the outside,
and so that you won’t ever be in need of anything.
13 Brothers,
we want you to understand the situation of those that are sleeping [in death],
so you aren’t saddened like those who don’t have any hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and
was resurrected, we must also believe that The God will (through Jesus) lead
back those that have fallen asleep.
15
Understand that what we are saying to you is the word of the Lord… that those
who are still living at the appearance of the Lord
will definitely not go ahead of those that have fallen asleep.
16 Because, the Lord himself will come
down from the sky and give the command in the voice of the highest messenger [of God] and with God’s trumpet;
Then those who have died in the Anointed One will be the first to be resurrected.
17
And after that, the living (those of us who are still left at that time) will
be snatched into the clouds along with them for a
meeting with the Lord in the air…
And thereafter,
we’ll always be with the Lord.
18 Keep comforting each other with these words.
Chapter 5
1 Now, when
it comes to the times and seasons brothers, nothing needs to be written to you,
2 because you know very well
that the Lord’s Day is coming as a thief in the
night.
3 And whenever they’re
saying ‘Peace and
security,’ destruction will come upon them instantly like labor pains on a
pregnant woman, and they won’t escape.
4
Therefore brothers; since you aren’t in the dark, don’t let that Day [sneak up] on you like a thief.
5 For you’re all sons of light and sons of
the day… you don’t belong to the night or to darkness!
6 As the
result, we shouldn’t be falling asleep like all the rest. Rather, we should be
staying awake and remaining sober;
7
For those who are sleeping, sleep at night, and those that get drunk, get drunk
at night.
8 But may those of us
who belong to the day stay sober, as we put on the breastplate of faith and
love, and wear our hope of salvation like a helmet.
9 Because, The God didn’t destine us for
His wrath, but for us to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus the Anointed One 10
who died for us, so that whether we remain alert or we fall asleep [in death], we’ll
all live together with him.
11 Keep on comforting each other with these words and continue to build each other up, just as you’re already doing!
12 Now
brothers;
We’re asking you to give [special] recognition to those who are working
so hard among you by taking the lead over you in the Lord and in counseling
you.
13 Give them extraordinary
loving consideration because of what they’re doing, and be at peace with each
other!
14 We also urge you brothers to reprimand the disorderly, to comfort the depressed, to support the weak, and to be patient with everyone.
15 Also,
make sure that no one is trying to get even with anyone else over bad things.
Keep on searching for the best interests of each other and for all the rest!
16 Keep on rejoicing!
17 Pray constantly!
18 And give thanks for everything,
because this is God’s will for you in the Anointed Jesus!
19 Also, don’t put out the fire of [God’s]
Breath 20 or ignore the
prophecies, 21 and prove
everything…
Then hang onto whatever is good 22
and avoid anything that appears to be wicked!
23 May the
God of peace make you completely holy and sound in every way – in spirit, soul, and body –
and may He find you blameless, so that you can be preserved when our Lord Jesus
the Anointed One arrives.
24 For the One that is calling
you is faithful, and He’ll make it happen.
25 Brothers;
Continue to pray for us, 26 and
keep on greeting all the brothers with a holy kiss.
27 Now, I’m putting you under oath in the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers.
28 May the loving care of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One be with all of you.