THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL, the APOSTLE, to the THESSALONIANS CHAPTER I & II

[2 Paul sheweth his remembrance of them in thanksgiving and prayer, 5 and approveth their exemplary reception of the gospel.]
PAUL, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the 
church of the Thessalonians, which is in God
the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be
unto 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 ceasing your work of 
faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our 
Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; 
4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of 
God. 
5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, 
but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in 
much assurance; as ye know what manner of men 
we were among you for your sake. 
6 And ye became followers of us, and of the 
Lord, having received the word in much affliction, 
with joy of the Holy Ghost:
7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe 
in Macedonia and Achaia. 
8 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. 
9 For they themselves shew of us what manner
of entering in we had unto you, and how ye 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, even Jesus, which delivered 
us from the wrath to come. 


CHAP. II

[ 1 In what manner the gospel was preached unto them, and how they received 
it; 17 he sheweth his desire of coming to them.]

FOR yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in 
unto you, that it was not in vain:
2 But even after that we had suffered before, and 
were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, 
we were bold in our God to speak unto you the 
gospel of God with much contention. 
3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of
 uncleanness, nor in guile;
4 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 trieth our hearts. 
5 For neither at any time used we flattering 
words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness;
God is witness:
6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, 
nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome,
as the apostles of Christ. 
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a 
nurse cherisheth her children:
8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we 
were willing to have imparted unto you, not the 
gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because 
ye were dear unto us.
9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and 
travail: for labouring night and day, because we 
would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached 
unto you the gospel of God. 
10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, 
and justly, and unblameably we behaved ourselves 
among you that believe:
11 As ye know how we exhorted, and comforted, 
and charged every one of you, as a father doth his 
children. 
12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who 
hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. 
13 For this cause also thank we God without 
ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God 
which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word 
of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which 
effectually worketh also in you that believe. 
14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the 
churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus:
for ye also have suffered like things of your own
countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
15 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:
16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that 
they might be saved, to fill up their sins always: for 
the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. 
17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a 
short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the 
more abundantly to see your face with great desire. 
18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, 
even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of  
|| rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our 
Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 
20 For ye are our glory and joy.