1 Thessalonians
 

1 Thessalonians is one of Paul's Epistles. Epistles are letters that Paul wrote to Christians in the early churches.

The books of 1 and 2 Thessalonians were written to the church in the city of Thessalonki in Greece.

Paul started the church in Thessalonki, but he had trouble there and had to leave in a hurry. He sent his helper, Timothy, back a few months later to check on the church. Timothy came back with a good report. Then, Paul wrote his first letter to the Christians in Thessalonki.

Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians was to encourage them and to help them grow as Christians.  Paul writes to them about the time when Jesus will come back to earth.  He tells them about the Rapture when the Christians on earth and the Christians who have already died will be taken up to heaven.

1 Thessalonians may have been the first letter that Paul wrote to any of the churches.

Modern picture of the city of Thessaloniki Picture from BiblePlaces.com

The city of Thessaloniki

1 Thessalonians 1 -5 Paul greets the Christians in Thessaloniki. We should try to please God. Jesus will come back. Paul tells about the day that Jesus comes back.

1 Thessalonians 1

Greetings from Paul to the Christians in Thessaloniki

This letter is from Paul and his helpers, Silvanus and Timotheus. They are writing this letter to the Christians in the new church in Thessaloniki, Greece. The church worships God the Father and Jesus Christ.

Paul writes, "Grace and peace to you from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We always thank God for you. We pray for you.

We always remember your faith and how hard you work. We remember your hope and patience as you work for our Lord Jesus Christ. We know that God loves you and He chose you.
[3] Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
[4] Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

We told you the gospel, the good news about Jesus. The Holy Spirit showed you we were telling you the truth. You saw that we were good men while we were living with you. You saw that we cared about you.
[5] For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

Even though it caused you to suffer, you followed us. The Holy Spirit made you joyful.  Christians in Macedonia and Achaia saw how you were joyful even while you suffered. You were examples to them.
[6] And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
[7] So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.


Your faith and God's message went out to Macedonia and Achaia, but also to people far away.  We don't have to say anything more about that because they have seen you.  They saw how you welcomed us. They saw how you turned away from false gods and idols to serve God who lives and is true.
[8] For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
[9] For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
 

They talk about how you are waiting for God's Son to come from heaven.  God raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus will save all of us when God judges the Earth. God will be angry with the world, but Jesus will save the believers.
[10] And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
 

1 Thessalonians 2

About Paul's travels and his ministry

Brothers, you know that our time with you was not a waste of time.
[1] For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:


We had been treated badly in the city of Philippi. But God made us brave to talk to you about the gospel of Jesus.
[2] But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

We were not trying to be sneaky when we talked to you.  God trusted us to tell you the good news. We tried to make God happy.  God knows how we feel inside.
[3] For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
[4] But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

We did not try to flatter anyone.  We weren't greedy and trying to get money.  God knows this is true.
[5] For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

We did not try to make people praise us.  We could have asked for help from you, but we did not. We treated you gently like a mother treats her baby.
[6] Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
[7] But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

We loved you, and we were willing to risk our lives to share the Gospel with you.
[8] So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

Remember how we worked day and night to support ourselves. We did not want to be a burden to you for our daily needs.
[9] For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

You and God are witnesses that we behaved well. We were honest and did nothing that was wrong.
[10] Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

We treated you like our own children.   We encouraged you to live in a way to honor God.
[11] As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
[12] That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

We thank God without stopping because you accepted God's word from us.  You knew it was from God and not from men. Now, God is working in you.
[13] For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.


Friends, you are like the followers of Christ in Judea.  They were treated badly by people in their country. You are also being treated badly by people in your country.
[14] For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

Those people killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets.  They have persecuted us. They do not make God happy. They are not nice people.
[15] Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:


They did not let us talk to Gentiles to save them.  They continue to sin.  They will be punished greatly.
[16] Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

We were taken away from you in person, but we did not forget you.  You were in our hearts. We wanted to come back to see you. I tried to come back many times. But Satan kept blocking us.
[17] But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
[18] Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

You are our hope and glory. We rejoice that you will be with the Lord Jesus Christ when He returns.
[19] For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
[20] For ye are our glory and joy.
 

1 Thessalonians 3

Why Timothy visited and what he said in his report to Paul.


We couldn't stand it anymore. We decided to send Timothy to you. We stayed in Athens (Greece) alone. We sent Timothy to comfort and encourage you. He is our brother and minister of God.  We didn't want the rough times to shake your faith.
[1] Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
[2] And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
[3] That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
 

When we were there with you, we warned you that you would suffer hard times. Now, it has happened. That is why I wrote to you.  I couldn't stand it anymore not knowing how you were doing.  I was worried that you had been tempted. I was afraid our hard work was for nothing.
[4] For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
[5] For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

But Timothy came back from seeing you and brought a good report.  He said you are still strong in faith and love. He said that you still remember us and want to see us again, too.
[6] But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:

That made us happy. Even though we are going through a hard time, we are encouraged about your faith. We can continue to live if you are strong in the Lord.
[7] Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
[8] For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

How can we thank God for you? We feel joy for you in God's presence.
[9] For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;

We pray night and day that we can see you again and help make your faith stronger.
[10] Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

We pray for God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ to help us visit you again.
[11] Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.

We pray for the Lord to make you increase your love toward one another and toward everyone. That is how we feel about you.
[12] And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

We pray that your hearts will be pure to God when our Lord Jesus Christ comes back again with His saints.
[13] To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
 

1 Thessalonians 4

We should try to please God.

We ask you to continue to live by God's rules. You know the commandments that we gave to you by the Lord Jesus.
[1] Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
[2] For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
 

God wants you to be holy. You should not have sexual relations outside of marriage.  Each of you should have control over your body and do what is God's will.
[3] For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
[4] That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

You should not be sexually immoral like people who do not know God.
[5] Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

You should not cheat your brother. We have warned you about this. God will punish you to make it up to your brother.
[6] That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.


God has called us to be clean and holy.
[7] For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.


If anyone rejects this, they are rejecting God who gives us His Holy Spirit.
[8] He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.


You don't need anyone to write to you about loving your brothers.  God already taught you to love one another.
[9] But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.


You are showing love to your brothers in the area of Macedonia. But, we ask you to show love to more and more people.
[10] And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

You should live quietly. Take care of your own business.  Work with your hands like we taught you. You will be honest and won't have to depend on anyone for what you need.
[11] And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
[12] That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
 

Jesus will come back
 

I want you to know about people who die. I don't want you to be sad like people who don't have any hope.
[13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

We believe that Jesus died and then lived again. So, people who die and believe in Jesus will live again, too. When Jesus comes back, He will bring them back.
[14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

 

We are living now, but when Jesus comes back, we will not be first.  The people who died and believed in Christ will be first. They will live again. 
[15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

The Lord Jesus will come down from heaven. There will be a shout from the archangel and God's trumpets.
[16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

The people who are still alive and believe in Jesus will go up. They will meet the Lord in the clouds. We will be with Jesus and the people who died but are alive again. We will be with Jesus forever.
[17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Talk about this with each other, and you will all feel better and stronger.
[18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
 

1 Thessalonians 5

About the Day of the Lord

You wonder about the time that Jesus will come back. There is no need to write you about that.  You know that day will come when you aren't looking for it. It will come like a thief in the night.  You will think everything is peaceful, then suddenly things will be destroyed.  It will happen fast like when a woman goes into labor.  People who don't believe in Jesus will not escape. But you brothers are not in darkness.  You will not have trouble on that day.
[1] But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
[2] For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
[3] For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
[4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
 

You are children of the light and children of the day. You are not children of the night or darkness. So, don't go to sleep like others. Stay awake and stay sober and alert.
[5] Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
[6] Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
 

People who sleep are not alert. They sleep in the night. People who get drunk get drunk in the night.
[7] For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
 

Be we people of the day should be sober. We should put on the breastplate of faith and love (be strong in faith and love). We should put on the helmet of hope of salvation (we should continue to hope).
[8] But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

God does not want us to have anger. He wants to save us by our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us. We will live forever with Him. It will not matter if we are still alive when He comes back or if we have died before He comes back.
[9] For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
[10] Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

That is why you should help each other and keep each other encouraged.
[11] Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

This is why we beg you, brother, to have respect for your leaders. They are trying to help you learn how to live as the Lord's followers. Show them that you respect them.  Don't fight and argue with each other. 
[12] And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
[13] And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
 

We ask you, brothers, warn people who are not behaving right. Help people who cannot think clearly.  Support people who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
[14] Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

Watch so that no one takes revenge on people who have done bad things to them.  Always follow the people who are good.  Rejoice and be happy always.
[15] See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
[16] Rejoice evermore.

Pray, and don't stop praying.
[17] Pray without ceasing.

No matter what happens, thank God. This is how God wants you to behave. Don't turn away from God's Spirit.  Don't hate the prophecies about the future.
[18] In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
[19] Quench not the Spirit.
[20] Despise not prophesyings.

Test things to see if they are true or not. Keep what is good, and get rid of what is evil.
[21] Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
[22] Abstain from all appearance of evil.


We ask the God of Peace to make you holy. I pray that your whole body and spirit are sinless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes back.  God is faithful. He will help you.
[23] And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[24] Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Brothers, please pray for us. Greet all of the brothers for us.  I ask, by the Lord Jesus, that you read this letter to all of the brothers.
[25] Brethren, pray for us.
[26] Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
[27] I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

I pray that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
[28] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.