[This is First Thessalonians from the Holy Bible, Hoehn Version, copyright 2011. (Amazon.com) It has been revised from the King James Version into modern English by Frederick Hoehn.] ___1 Thessalonians chapter 1 1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians that is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ, Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 Remembering without stopping your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God our Father, 4 Knowing, beloved brothers, your election from God. 5 For our gospel didn't come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. 6 And you became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost, 7 So that you were examples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 For the word of the Lord sounded out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God is spread around, so that we don't need to say anything. 9 For they themselves show about us what kind of arrival we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, who is Jesus, who gave us deliverance from the anger that's coming. ___1 Thessalonians chapter 2 1 For yourselves, brothers, know our entrance in to you, that it was not in vain, 2 But even after we had suffered before, and were shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God with a lot of opposition. 3 For our preaching was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile, 4 But as we were allowed by God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts. 5 For we didn't at any time use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness, God is witness, 6 Nor from men did we seek glory, neither from you, nor yet from others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nurse cherishes her children, 8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have given to you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because you were dear to us. 9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail, for laboring night and day, because we didn't want to be indebted to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe, 11 As you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged each one of you, like a father does his children, 12 So that you'd walk worthy of God, who has called you to his kingdom and glory. 13 For this reason also, we thank God without stopping, because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you received it, not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, that effectively works also in you that believe. 14 For you, brothers, became followers of the churches of God that in Judea are in Christ Jesus, for you also have suffered similar things from your own countrymen, just as they have from the Jews, 15 Who killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us, and they don't please God, and are contrary to all men, 16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles so that they'd be saved, to fill up their sins always, for the anger has come on them to the maximum. 17 But we, brothers, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, tried the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. 18 So we would have come to you, even I, Paul, once and again, but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Aren't even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy. ___1 Thessalonians chapter 3 1 So when we couldn't wait any longer, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone, 2 And sent Timothy our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith, 3 So that no man would be moved by these afflictions, for you know that we are appointed to them. 4 For truly, when we were with you, we told you before that we would suffer tribulation, just as it has happened, and you know. 5 For this reason, when I could no longer wait, I sent to know your faith, to make sure the tempter didn't successfully tempt you, and that our labor hasn't been in vain. 6 But now when Timothy came from you to us, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you have good memories about us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you, 7 Therefore brothers, we were comforted about you in all our affliction and distress by your faith, 8 For now we live, if you stand strong in the Lord. 9 For what thanks can we give back to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God, 10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we would see your face, and would perfect what is lacking in your faith? 11 Now God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. 12 And the Lord make you increase and flourish in love toward each other, and toward all men, just as we do toward you, 13 To the end that he will establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. ___1 Thessalonians chapter 4 1 Furthermore then, we ask you please, brothers, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as you've received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, so you would flourish more and more. 2 For you know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your being made holy, so that you'll abstain from fornication, 4 So that each one of you knows how to possess his body in holiness and honor, 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, like the Gentiles who don't know God, 6 So that no man goes beyond and defrauds his brother in any matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we have also warned you and testified. 7 For God hasn't called us to uncleanness, but to holiness. 8 He therefore that despises, doesn't despise man but God, who has also given us his Holy Spirit. 9 But concerning brotherly love, you don't need me to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love each other. 10 And indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia, but we ask you please, brothers, to increase more and more, 11 And to study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 So that you'll walk honestly toward those who are outside, and so that you'll have lack of nothing. 13 But I don't want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who've died, so you don't sorrow, like others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those also who've died in Jesus, God will bring with him. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain at the coming of the Lord won't go ahead of those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first, 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we always be with the Lord. 18 So, comfort each other with these words. ___1 Thessalonians chapter 5 1 But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you don't need me to write to you. 2 For you know perfectly that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, "Peace and safety," then sudden destruction comes on them, like birth pangs on a woman with child, and they won't escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that that day would overtake you like a thief. 5 You are all the children of light, and the children of the day, we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let's not sleep, like others, but let's stay awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep in the night, and those who are drunk are drunk in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not appointed us to anger, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, so that, whether we're awake or asleep, we'll live together with him. 11 So, comfort yourselves together, and build up each other, as you've been doing. 12 And we ask you please brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you, 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you brothers, warn those who are unruly, comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15 Make sure that no one returns evil for evil to any man, but always follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16 Rejoice more all the time. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Don't quench the Spirit. 20 Don't despise prophesying. 21 Prove all things, hold tightly what is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23 And the very God of peace make you completely holy, and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body will be preserved blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he that calls you, who also will do it. 25 Brothers, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy brothers. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.