THE FIRST EPISTLE
OF
PAUL THE APOSTLE
TO THE
THESSALONIANS
1 Thessalonians 5 ©
1 The apostle teaches that Christ shall come to judgment unawares, as a thief in the night, and as the pangs of travail upon a woman. 4 Exhorts them therefore to be always on their guard, and to be sober. 8 And armed with the breastplate of faith and love, and with the helmet of the hope of salvation. 12 Prays them to have their rulers in honor. 14 And furthermore exhorts them to divers Christian virtues. 17 Also to prayer and thanksgiving. 19 And to take heed to the Spirit and prophesying, to hold fast that which is good. 23 Afterward prays to God to keep them blameless unto the coming of Christ, with a promise that He will also do it. 25 Exhorts them to pray for him, and to salute one another. 27 And adjures them that this epistle be read before all.
BUT of the times and 1the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
For yourselves know perfectly thata2the day of the Lord so 3cometh 4as a thief in the night.
For when 5they shall 6say, Peace and 7safety; then 8suddenb destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Butc ye, brethren, are not 9in darkness, that that day should overtake you 10as a thief.
11Ye are all the 12childrend of light, and the children ofe the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
Thereforef let us not 13sleep, as do others; but letg us 14watch andh be 15sober.
For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken 16in the night.
But let us, who are 17of the day, be sober, puttingi on 18the breastplate of faith and love; and 19for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
For God hath not 20appointed us 21to wrath, but to 22obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who died for us, that,j whether we wake or 23sleep, we should live together with him.
Wherefore 24comfort yourselves together, and 25edify one another, even as also ye do.
Andk we beseech you, brethren, to 26know them which 27labour among you, and 28are over you 29in the Lord, and 30admonish you;
And to esteem them very highly 31in love 32for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are 33unruly, comfort the feebleminded, 34support the weak, be patient toward all men.
Seel that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is 35good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
36Rejoicem evermore.
Prayn37without ceasing.
38In every thing giveo thanks: for this is 39the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
40Quenchp not the Spirit.
Despise not 41prophesyings.
42Proveq all things; 43hold fast that which is 44good.
Abstainr45from all appearance of evil.
Ands46the very God of peace sanctify you 47wholly; and I pray God your whole 48spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless 49unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faithful is het that calleth you, who also will 50do it.
Brethren, pray for us.
Greetu all the brethren with 51an holy kiss.
52I charge 53you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
54The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.