¹⁵Salute the brethren in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church in his house. ¹⁶And when the letter has been read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that ye also read that from Laodicea. ¹⁷And say to Archippus: Take heed to the ministry which thou didst receive in the Lord, that thou fulfill it.

¹⁸The salutation by the hand of me, Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you.

[THE FIRST LETTER OF PAUL TO THE THESSALONIANS.]

I. Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you, and peace.

²We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; ³remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before God and our Father; ⁴knowing, brethren beloved of God, your election; ⁵because our gospel came not to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men were we among you, for your sake. ⁶And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit; ⁷so that ye became an example to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. ⁸For from you has sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth; so that we have no need to speak anything. ⁹For they themselves report concerning us, what manner of entrance we had to you, and how ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.

II. For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance to you, that it has not become vain. ²But having before suffered, and been shamefully treated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. ³For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile; ⁴but as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who proves our hearts. ⁵For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness; ⁶nor of men sought we glory, neither from you, nor from others, though able to use authority, as Christ's apostles. ⁷But we were gentle among you, as a nurse cherishes her children; ⁸so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to impart to you, not only the gospel of God, but also our own souls, because ye were dear to us. ⁹For ye remember, brethren, our labor and toil; night and day working, in order not to burden any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

¹⁰Ye are witnesses, and God, how holily and justly and unblamably we behaved ourselves to you that believe; ¹¹as ye know how we exhorted, and encouraged, and charged every one of you, as a father his children, ¹²that ye should walk worthy of God, who is calling you into his kingdom and glory.

¹³For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that when ye received the word of God heard from us, ye received not the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you that believe. ¹⁴For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which are in Judæa in Christ Jesus; for ye also suffered the same things of your own countrymen, as they have of the Jews; ¹⁵who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us forth, and please not God, and are contrary to all men; ¹⁶hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins always; and the wrath came upon them to the utmost.

¹⁷But we, brethren, having been severed from you for a short time, in presence, not in heart, endeavored the more abundantly to see your face, with great desire. ¹⁸Wherefore we would fain have come to you, even I, Paul, once and again; and Satan hindered us. ¹⁹For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not also ye, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? ²⁰For ye are our glory and joy.