1Thessalonians:1-3

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* Paul , and Silvanus , and Timotheus , to the church of the Thessalonians which 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 . * We give thanks to God always for you all , making mention of you in our prayers ; * Remembering without ceasing your work of faith , and labor of love , and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ , in the sight of God and our Father ; * Knowing , brothers beloved , your election of God . * For our gospel came not to you in word only , but also in power , and in the Holy Ghost , and in much assurance ; as you know what manner of men we were among you for your sake . * And you became followers of us , and of the Lord , having received the word in much affliction , with joy of the Holy Ghost . * So that you were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia . * For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia , but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad ; so that we need not to speak any thing . * For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had to you , and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God ; * And to wait for his Son from heaven , whom he raised from the dead , even Jesus , which delivered us from the wrath to come . * For yourselves , brothers , know our entrance in to you , that it was not in vain : * But even after that we had suffered before , and were shamefully entreated , as you know , at Philippi , we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God with much contention . * For our exhortation was not of deceit , nor of uncleanness , nor in guile : * But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel , even so we speak ; not as pleasing men , but God , which tries our hearts . * For neither at any time used we flattering words , as you know , nor a cloak of covetousness ; God is witness : * Nor of men sought we glory , neither of you , nor yet of others , when we might have been burdensome , as the apostles of Christ . * But we were gentle among you , even as a nurse cherishes her children : * So being affectionately desirous of you , we were willing to have imparted to you , not the gospel of God only , but also our own souls , because you were dear to us . * For you remember , brothers , our labor and travail : for laboring night and day , because we would not be chargeable to any of you , we preached to you the gospel of God . * You are witnesses , and God also , how piously and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you that believe : * As you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you , as a father does his children , * That you would walk worthy of God , who has called you to his kingdom and glory . * For this cause also thank we God without ceasing , because , when you received the word of God which you heard of us , you received it not as the word of men , but as it is in truth , the word of God , which effectually works also in you that believe . * For you , brothers , became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus : for you also have suffered like things of your own countrymen , even as they have of the Jews : * Who both killed the Lord Jesus , and their own prophets , and have persecuted us ; and they please not God , and are contrary to all men : * Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved , to fill up their sins always : for the wrath is come on them to the uttermost . * But we , brothers , being taken from you for a short time in presence , not in heart , endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire . * Why we would have come to you , even I Paul , once and again ; but Satan hindered us . * For what is our hope , or joy , or crown of rejoicing ? Are not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming ? * For you are our glory and joy . * Why when we could no longer forbear , we thought it good to be left at Athens alone ; * And sent Timotheus , 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 : * That no man should be moved by these afflictions : for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto . * For truly , when we were with you , we told you before that we should suffer tribulation ; even as it came to pass , and you know . * For this cause , when I could no longer forbear , I sent to know your faith , lest by some means the tempter have tempted you , and our labor be in vain . * But now when Timotheus came from you to us , and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity , and that you have good remembrance of us always , desiring greatly to see us , as we also to see you : * Therefore , brothers , we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith : * For now we live , if you stand fast in the Lord . * For what thanks can we render to God again for you , for all the joy with which we joy for your sakes before our God ; * Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face , and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith ? * Now God himself and our Father , and our Lord Jesus Christ , direct our way to you . * And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another , and toward all men , even as we do toward you : * To the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before God , even our Father , at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints . * Furthermore then we beseech you , brothers , and exhort you by the Lord Jesus , that as you have received of us how you ought to walk and to please God , so you would abound more and more .

---