Bible-Reading.comI Thessalonians 4
1Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk,—that ye abound more and more.
2For ye know what charge we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
3For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye abstain from fornication;
4that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honour,
5not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles which know not God;
6that no man transgress, and wrong his brother in the matter: because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified.
7For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification.
8Therefore he that rejecteth, rejecteth not man, but God, who giveth his Holy Spirit unto you.
9But concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another;
10for indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, that ye abound more and more;
11and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your hands, even as we charged you;
12that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and may have need of nothing.
13But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, which have no hope.
14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep.
16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
I Thessalonians 5
1But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you.
2For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape.
4But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief:
5for ye are all sons of light, and sons of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness;
6so then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober.
7For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
9For God appointed us not unto wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11Wherefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as also ye do.
12But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13and to esteem them exceeding highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
14And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all.
15See that none render unto any one evil for evil; but alway follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all.
16Rejoice alway;
17pray without ceasing;
18in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward.
19Quench not the Spirit;
20despise not prophesyings;
21prove all things; hold fast that which is good;
22abstain from every form of evil.
23And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it.
25Brethren, pray for us.
26Salute all the brethren with a holy kiss.
27I adjure you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the brethren.
28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.