[CHAP. IV.]
FINALLY, brethren, we beseech you therefore, and conjure you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk, and please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from whoredom; 4that every one of you may know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honour, 5not in the vile passion of lewdness, as the Gentiles which know not God; 6that no man transgress against, or act dishonestly to his brother in this matter because the Lord is the avenger of all such things, as we have told you before, and testified. 7For God hath not called us unto impurity, but unto holiness. 8Therefore he that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit.
9Now concerning brotherly love, I have no need to write unto you: for ye yourselves are divinely taught to love one another. 10And indeed ye practise it towards all the brethren that are throughout Macedonia: but we conjure you, brethren, to abound more and more; 11and that you make it your study to live peaceably, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we have enjoined you; 12that ye walk becomingly towards those without, and need no assistance from any person.
13Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are fallen asleep, that ye be not afflicted, as the rest of mankind who have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again, so also those that have fallen asleep for Jesus shall God bring with him. 15For this I say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent those who are fallen asleep. 16For 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: 17then we who are alive, who remain, shall be caught up together with them into the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we be ever with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
[CHAP. V.]
NOW concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I should write to you: 2for yourselves know precisely that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3For when they say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction rusheth upon them, as travail on a woman 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. 5Ye are all the children of light, and the children of day: we are not the children of night, nor of darkness. 6Let us not then sleep as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7For they who sleep, sleep in the night, and they who are drunken, are drunken in the night; 8but 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. 9For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who died for us, that whether we sleep, or whether we wake, we may live together with him. 11Wherefore comfort one another, and edify one another, as also ye do.
12Now we entreat you, brethren, to know those who labour among you, and preside over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13and to account of them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And live in peace among yourselves.
14Now we conjure you, brethren, admonish the unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the infirm, be patient with all men. 15See that no man return evil for evil to any man; but always pursue that which is good, both towards one another, and towards all men.
16Rejoice evermore. 17Pray without ceasing. 18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-wards. 19Quench not the Spirit. 20Despise not prophesyings. 21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23Now the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved faultless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.