Bible-Reading.comI Thessalonians 4
1For the rest, then, brethren, we beg you and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, even as ye have received from us how ye ought to walk and please God, even as ye also do walk, that ye would abound still more.
2For ye know what charges we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
3For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication;
4that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honour,
5(not in passionate desire, even as the nations who know not God,)
6not overstepping the rights of and wronging his brother in the matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all these things, even as we also told you before, and have fully testified.
7For God has not called us to uncleanness, but in sanctification.
8He therefore that in this disregards his brother, disregards, not man, but God, who has given also his Holy Spirit to you.
9Now concerning brotherly love ye have no need that we should write to you, for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
10For also ye do this towards all the brethren in the whole of Macedonia; but we exhort you, brethren, to abound still more,
11and to seek earnestly to be quiet and mind your own affairs, and work with your own hands, even as we charged you,
12that ye may walk reputably towards those without, and may have need of no one.
13But we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them that are fallen asleep, to the end that ye be not grieved even as also the rest who have no hope.
14For if we believe that Jesus has died and has risen again, so also God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.
15(For this we say to you in the word of the Lord, that *we*, the living, who remain to the coming of the Lord, are in no way to anticipate those who have fallen asleep;
16for the Lord himself, with an assembling shout, with archangel's voice and with trump of God, shall descend from heaven; and the dead in Christ shall rise first;
17then *we*, the living who remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we shall be always with the Lord.
18So encourage one another with these words.)
I Thessalonians 5
1But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that ye should be written to,
2for ye know perfectly well yourselves, that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief by night.
3When they may say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon her that is with child; and they shall in no wise escape.
4But *ye*, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you as a thief:
5for all *ye* are sons of light and sons of day; we are not of night nor of darkness.
6So then do not let us sleep as the rest do, but let us watch and be sober;
7for they that sleep sleep by night, and they that drink drink by night;
8but *we* being of the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as helmet the hope of salvation;
9because God has not set us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10who has died for us, that whether we may be watching or sleep, we may live together with him.
11Wherefore encourage one another, and build up each one the other, even as also ye do.
12But we beg you, brethren, to know those who labour among you, and take the lead among you in the Lord, and admonish you,
13and to regard them exceedingly in love on account of their work. Be in peace among yourselves.
14But we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, comfort the faint-hearted, sustain the weak, be patient towards all.
15See that no one render to any evil for evil, but pursue always what is good towards one another and towards all;
16rejoice always;
17pray unceasingly;
18in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus towards you;
19quench not the Spirit;
20do not lightly esteem prophecies;
21but prove all things, hold fast the right;
22hold aloof from every form of wickedness.
23Now the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly: and your whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24He is faithful who calls you, who will also perform it.
25Brethren, pray for us.
26Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
27I adjure you by the Lord that the letter be read to all the holy brethren.
28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.