another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as I the Lord forgave you, so also 14 do ye: and above all these things put on love, which is 15 the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing 4 one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your 17 hearts unto God. And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 18 Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting 19 in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter 20 against them. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the 21 Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children, that they be 22 not discouraged. 5 Servants, obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing 23 the Lord: whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men; 24 knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense Continue stedfastly in 2 prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving; withal praying 3 for us also, that God may open unto us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds; that I may make it 4 manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward them 5 that are without, 10 redeeming the time. Let your speech be 6 always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one. All my affairs shall Tychi- 7 cus make known unto you, the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord: whom I have 8 sent unto you for this very purpose, that ye may know our estate, and that he may comfort your hearts; together 9 with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things that are done here. Aristarchus my fellow-pri- 10 soner saluteth you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (touch 1 Many ancient authorities read Christ. 2 Gr. arbitrate. 3 Some ancient authorities read the Lord: others, God. 4 Or, yourselves 5 Gr. Bondservants. 6 Gr. lords. 7 Gr. from the soul. 8 Gr. receive again Gr. equality. 10 Gr. buying up the opportunity. the wrong. ing whom ye received commandments; if he come unto 11 you, receive him), and Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision: these only are my fellow-workers unto the kingdom of God, men that have been a comfort unto me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, saluteth you, always striving for you in his prayers, that ye may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will 13 of God. For bear him witness, that he hath much labour for you, and for them in Laodicea, and for them in 14 Hierapolis. Luke, the be loved physician, and Demas salute you. Salute the bre- 15 thren that are in Laodicea, and 2Nymphas, and the church that is in their house. And 16 when this epistle hath been read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye also read the epistle from Laodicea. And say to Ar- 17 chippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. The salutation of me Paul 18 with mine own hand. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much 7assurance; even as ye know what manner of men we shewed ourselves toward you for your sake. And ye 6 became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost; so that ye became an ensample 7 to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia. For 8 from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only 3 Some 1 Gr. bondservant. 2 The Greek may represent Nympha. ancient authorities read her. 4 Gr. the. 5 Or, because our gospel &c. 6 Or, Holy Spirit 7 Or, fulness we were well pleased to im- to the end that ye should walk 12 worthily of God, who calleth you into his own kingdom and glory. in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth; so that we need not to speak 9 anything. For they themselves report concerning us what manner of entering in we had unto you; and how ye turned unto God from idols, to serve a living and 10 true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivereth us from the wrath to come. 21 For yourselves, brethren, know our entering in unto you, that it hath not been 2 found vain: but having suf-couraging you, and testifying, fered before, and been shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we waxed bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God in much 3 conflict. For our exhortation is not of error, nor of unclean4 ness, nor in guile: but even as we have been approved of God to be intrusted with the gospel, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God which 5 proveth our hearts. For neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness, God is witness; 6 nor seeking glory of men, neither from you, nor from others, when we might have 1been burdensome, as apostles 7 of Christ. But we were gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherisheth her own 8 children: even so, being affectionately desirous of you, 1 Or, claimed honour And for this cause we also 13 thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us 4the word of the message, even the word of God, ye accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe. For 14 ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judæa in Christ Jesus: for ye also suffered the same things of your own countrymen, even as they did of the Jews; who both killed the 15 Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drave out us, and please not God, and are contrary to all men; forbidding us to speak 16 to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins 2 Most of the ancient authorities read babes. 4 Gr. the word of hearing. 8 Some ancient authorities read called. 17 alway: but the wrath is come But we, brethren, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more exceedingly to see your face 18 with great desire: because we would fain have come unto you, I Paul once and again; 19 and Satan hindered us. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even ye, before our Lord Jesus 20 at his 2 coming? For ye are our glory and our joy. 31 1 Gr. a season of an hour. ing to see us, even as we also Now may our God and Fa- 11 Finally then, brethren, we 1 4 beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk,-that ye abound more and more. For 2 ye know what charge we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of 3 God, even your sanctification, that ye abstain from fornication; that each one of you 4 know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctifi2 Gr. presence. 3 Some ancient authorities 4 Or, plainly Many ancient authori | 5 cation and honour, not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles which know not God; 6 that no man 1transgress, and wrong his brother in the matter: because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we 2 forewarned you 7 and testified. For God called us not for uncleanness, but in 8 sanctification. Therefore he that rejecteth, rejecteth not man, but God, who giveth his Holy Spirit unto you. 9 But concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God 10 to love one another; for indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, that ye abound 11 more and more; and that ye 3 study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your hands, even 12 as we charged you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and may have need of nothing. shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep. For 16 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: then we that 17 are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore 6 comfort one an- 18 other with these words. But concerning the times 15 and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you. For your- 2 selves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. When 3 they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape. But ye, bre- 4 thren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief: for ye are all 5 sons of light, and sons of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness; so then let us 6 not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in 7 the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, since we 8 are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. For 9 |