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Book of 1stThessalonians

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Author: --- Background & Theme --- dated at:
Apostle Paul (v 1:1), written from Corinth, also Silvanus and Timothy were with him. The city of Thessalonica at the time was the capital of Macedonia, a sea port and the second largest city within Greece, population of approximately two hundred thousand. This epistle, is written to the church at Thessalonica and all the brethren. First encouraging the church and then addressing various issues. Using Paul's lifestyle as an example and rejoicing in persecutions when they come. Lastly, to walk pleasing to God so as to also give a good witness, for the endtimes will come unexpectedly, therefore, watch and be prepared.
five chapters
between
49-50 AD.
line

Verse by verse, account of the book of 1st Thessalonians.

1st Thessalonians: chapter 1

1Paul, Silvanus and Timothy,

To the church at Thessalonica which is in God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

2We give thanks for all of you, always remembering you in our prayers. 3Remembering your work of faith, your labor of love and your enduring hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, that is seen by God our Father. 4Knowing, beloved brethren, that you are of the elect, called of God. 5For the gospel of Christ did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit with much assurance, for you know by our lifestyle, when we were among you what kind of men we were.

6And you received the Word with much joy of the Holy Spirit, becoming followers of us and of the Lord, even through the persecutions you endured. 7After this, you became examples to all who believe in all of Macedonia and Achaia. 8Because of you, the Word of the Lord has spread not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but every place that has heard the report of your faith the Word has gone forth, insomuch that wherever this report has been heard, we do not need to say anything. 9For they that heard your testimony, declare it to us, of how you turned away from idols to serve the true and living God. 10To wait for the return of His Son, Jesus from heaven, whom was raised from the dead, to deliver us from the wrath to come.

1st Thessalonians: chapter 2

1Brothers, you yourself know that our coming to you was not in vain. 2Even after the persecutions we suffered at Philippi and how they spitefully treated us, for we boldly spoke the Word of God to you in much conflict. 3Our preaching was not of error, nor was it in deceit, 4but we speak for we have been approved and entrusted by God to speak His gospel, not as pleasing to men but pleasing to God, who proves our hearts. 5For at no time did we try to win you over with pleasing words, nor did we use deceitful methods, God is our witness. 6Neither did we seek glory from men, even though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7But, were gentle to you just as a mother would care for her own children. 8So, as you had become dear to us, we were well pleased to impart to you both the gospel of God and the sharing of our own lives. 9You do remember our own labors, that we labored both night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you as we preached the gospel of God.

10Yes, you witnessed as did God, how devout and faultless we were among the believers. 11For we encouraged, comforted and charged each one of you, as a father does his own children. 12That you would walk worthy of God, who called you into His own kingdom and glory.

13We continually thank God for this, that when you heard the Word, you welcomed it and received it as the Word of God, not as the word of men, but as the truth, that effectually works in those who believe. 14For you became followers of the church of God in Judea and in the same way that they were persecuted by their own country men, your church also suffered the same from your own countrymen. 15It was these Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus Christ and their own prophets and do still persecute us, which is not pleasing to God and these men are contrary to all. 16Forbidding us to preach the gospel to the gentiles, fearing that some might be won over and by doing so, they heap up sin upon themselves and the wrath of God, that will come upon them to the uttermost.

17Though we are not with you in person, having been taken away from you for a season, we are always with you in heart and greatly desire to be with you again. 18I Paul and all of us, have desired to come to you time and again but have been hindered by Satan. 19For our hope and joy even our crown of rejoicing is that you will be in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His return. 20For you are truly our glory and joy.

1st Thessalonians: chapter 3

1Therefore, when we could no longer endure the separation, we thought it good to be left alone in Athens. 2And we sent for Timothy, our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ to establish and comfort you in your faith. 3That no one would be shaken by our afflictions, because you yourselves know that this is what we were appointed to. 4For when we were with you, we told you of these things beforehand that we would suffer persecutions. 5When I could no longer endure the silence, this is why I sent for Timothy to know of your faith, least the tempter had come to you, making our labor in vain.

6But now Timothy has returned to us, bringing us a good report of your faith and love and that you have good memories of us, desiring to see us again, as we also desire to see you. 7Even in our present affliction, this good report of your faith comforted us. 8Knowing that you are steadfast in the Lord, is for now our reason for living. 9We give thanks to God for all the joy that we have experienced concerning you. 10Praying, day and night for you that we may come to you and perfect what is lacking in your faith.

11May God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ now direct our path to you. 12And may the Lord make you to increase and abound in love to one another, just as our love is towards you. 13So that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

1st Thessalonians: chapter 4

1Therefore, we urge you brethren, to lift up the Lord Jesus Christ and call upon Him, that you may abound more and more in the Lord, As you learned from us how you ought to walk pleasing to God. 2For you know the commandments of the Lord Jesus, that we left with you.

3This is the will of God and is your sanctification, that you should abstain from sexual immorality. 4That each of you should know how to manage his own body in sanctification and honor. 5Not in lustful passion as do the unbelievers who do not know God. 6That no man should take advantage of and defraud his brother, because the Lord will avenge all, as we forewarned you of this. 7For God did not call us to uncleanness but to holiness. 8Therefore anyone who rejects these words, does not reject man but God, who has given us His Holy Spirit.

9But concerning brotherly love, I have no need to write to you, for it is God, Himself that teaches you to love one another. 10And indeed you do have love for all the brethren in Macedonia, but we urge you to increase this even more. 11That you also aspire to lead a quiet life, minding your own business, working with your hands, as we have commanded you. 12That you may give a good witness to those who are outside the church and that you may lack nothing.

13But I do not wish that you be ignorant, concerning those who have died, lest you become sorrowful as those without hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, God will also raise up those who have died in Jesus. 15For this is the Word of the Lord, that we who remain alive until the coming of the Lord shall not go before those who have died in the Lord. 16For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, the voice of an archangel and the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 17Then shall we who are alive also be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, thus shall we always be with the Lord. 18Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1st Thessalonians: chapter 5

1Now concerning the times and the seasons, there is no need that I should write to you. 2For you yourself know that the day of the Lord will be unexpected and sudden, like a thief in the night. 3Just as they think all is well, sudden destruction will come and they shall not escape. 4But you brethren are not in darkness and this day should not overtake you as a thief. 5You are all the sons of light of the day, we are not of the night or of darkness. 6Therefore let us not slumber, as some do, but let us watch and be sober. 7For they who sleep, sleep in the night and those who get drunk, get drunk in the night. 8But let them of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and wearing the hope of our salvation, as a helmet. 9For God did not appoint us to wrath, but that we would obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10Who died for us, for whether we be currently alive or dead we shall live with Him. 11Therefore, comfort and edify one another, as you are doing.

12We urge you to recognize your fellow workers that lead you in the Lord and care for you. 13Esteem them highly in love for their work's sake, being at peace with them. 14Now we encourage you to warn those who are unruly, comfort those who are frightened, uphold the weak and be patient with all. 15No one should return evil for evil, but pursue that which is good for all. 16Rejoice always, 17Pray without ceasing. 18Give thanks in all things, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19Do not quench the Holy Spirit. 20Do not despise prophecies. 21Discern all things, hold on to what is true and good. 22Abstain from every form of evil.

23May the God of peace Himself make you holy and complete and may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24For He who called you is faithful and is well able to do as He said.

25Brethren, pray for us. 26Greet all the believers with a holy kiss. 27I charge you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brethren. 28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, Amen.