1 Some ancient authorities read as thieves. upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape. But ye, brethren, are 4 not in darkness, that that day should overtake you 'as a thief: for ye are all sons of light, and. sons of the 5 day we are not of the night, nor of darkness; so 6 then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; 7 and they that are drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting 8 on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God appointed us not 9 unto wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether 10 we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Or, comfort Wherefore exhort one another, and build each other 11 up, even as also ye do. 2 Or, watch 4 Many ancient authorities insert but. 5 Gr. pre sence. • Some ancient authorities add also. 7 Many ancient authorities insert holy. 2 3 But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that 12 labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them exceeding highly 13 in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves. And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the dis- 14 orderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all. See that none render unto 15 any one evil for evil; but alway follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all. Re-16 joice alway; pray without ceasing; in every thing 17 give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward. Quench not the Spirit; despise 20 not prophesyings; prove all things; hold fast that 21 which is good; abstain from every form of evil. 5 18 19 22 And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; 23 and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who will 24 also do it. Brethren, pray for us. 25 27 Salute all the brethren with a holy kiss. I adjure 26 you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 28 THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE THESSALONIANS. 1 PAUL, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord 2 Jesus Christ; Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We are bound to give thanks to God alway for you, brethren, even as it is meet, for that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all to4 ward one another aboundeth; so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience 10r, and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions stedfastness 5 which ye endure: which is a manifest token of the righteous judgement of God; to the end that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which 6 ye also suffer if so be that it is a righteous thing with God to recompense affliction to them that afflict you, 7 and to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of 8 his power in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the 9 gospel of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and 10 from the glory of his might, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at in all them that believed (because our testimony unto you 11 was believed) in that day. To which end we also pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfil every 2 desire of good- 2 Gr. good 12 ness and every work of faith, with power; that the pleasure of name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. goodness. 1 Gr. in be half of. 2 Gr. presence. 3 Many ancient authorities read lawlessness. 4 Gr. an object of worship. 5 Or, sanctuary 6 Or, only until he that now restrain eth be taken &c. 7 Some ancient authorities omit Jesus. 8 Some ancient authorities read consume. 9 Gr. power and signs and wonders of falsehood. 10 Or, are perishing 11 Many ancient authorities read as firstfruits. 12 Or, faith 4 2 Now we beseech you, brethren, 'touching the ' com- 2 ing of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him; to the end that ye be not quickly 2 shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand; let no man beguile 3 you in any wise: for it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, he that opposeth and exalteth him- 4 self against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God. Remember ye not, that, 5 when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know that which restraineth, to the end 6 that he may be revealed in his own season. For the 7 mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall be revealed the lawless one, 8 whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his coming; even he, whose coming is according 9 to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceit of unrighteousness 10 for them that 10 perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God sendeth them a working of 11 error, that they should believe a lie: that they all 12 might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. you 2 7 8 6 But we are bound to give thanks to God alway for 13 you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose "from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and 12 belief of the truth: whereunto 14 he called you through our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brethren, 15 stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye were taught, whether by word, or by epistle of ours. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our 16 Father who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and 17 stablish them in every good work and word. 3 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even as also it is with 2 you; and that we may be delivered from unreason3 able and evil men; for all have not faith. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and guard you 4 from the evil one. And we have confidence in the 1Or, evil Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the 2 5 things which we command. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of 2Or, Christ. 6 3 stedfastness For Some ancient authorities Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not 7 after the tradition which they received of us. yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us: for we 8 behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; neither read ye. did we eat bread for nought at any man's hand, but in labour and travail, working night and day, that we 9 might not burden any of you: not because we have not the right, but to make ourselves an ensample unto 10 you, that ye should imitate us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, If any will 11 not work, neither let him eat. For we hear of some that walk among you disorderly, that work not at all, 12 but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that 13 with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. But 14 ye, brethren, be not weary in well-doing. And if any man obeyeth not our word by this epistle, note that man, that ye have no company with him, to the end 15 that he may be ashamed. And yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all. 17 The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand, 18 which is the token in every epistle: so I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL ΤΟ 1 Or, 2 Gr. missed the mark. TIMOTHY. PAUL, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the 1 commandment of God our Saviour, and Christ Jesus our hope; unto Timothy, my true child in faith: Grace, 2 mercy, peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. As I exhorted thee to tarry at Ephesus, when I was 3 going into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge certain men not to teach a different doctrine, neither 4 to give heed to fables and endless genealogies, the which minister questionings, rather than a 'dispensation stewardship of God which is in faith; so do I now. But the end 5 of the charge is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned: from which things 6 some having swerved have turned aside unto vain talking; desiring to be teachers of the law, though they 7 understand neither what they say, nor whereof they confidently affirm. But we know that the law is good, 8 if a man use it lawfully, as knowing this, that law is not 9 made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and unruly, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and 3 Or, smiters profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for abusers of 10 themselves with men, for men-stealers, for liars, for false swearers, and if there be any other thing contrary to the sound 'doctrine; according to the gospel of 11 the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. 4 Gr. healthful. 5 Or, teaching • Some ancient authorities read enableth, 4 6 I thank him that enabled me, even Christ Jesus our 12 Lord, for that he counted me faithful, appointing me to his service; though I was before a blasphemer, and 13 a persecutor, and injurious: howbeit I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace 14 |