The first epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Athens.
THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE, TO THE THESSALONIANS.
CHAP. I.
PAUL, and Silva.n.u.s, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in G.o.d our Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: (2)grace unto you and peace, from G.o.d our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (3)We are bound to give thanks to G.o.d always for you, brethren, as it is fit, because your faith groweth exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth: (4)so that we ourselves make our boast of you among the churches of G.o.d, for your patience and fidelity under all your persecutions and afflictions which ye endure: (5)which is a manifest proof of the righteous judgment of G.o.d, that ye should be counted worthy of the kingdom of G.o.d, for which ye also suffer: (6)seeing it is a righteous thing with G.o.d to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; (7)and to you who are troubled, rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven with his mighty angels, (8)in a flame of fire, taking vengeance of them that know not G.o.d, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: (9)who shall receive punishment, even eternal perdition, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power: (10)when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired by all those who believe; because our testimony was believed among you in that day. (11)Wherefore also we pray continually for you, that our G.o.d would count you worthy of the calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: (12)that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified by you, and you by him, according to the grace of our G.o.d and Lord, Jesus Christ.
CHAP. II.
NOW we entreat you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him: (2)that ye be not hastily agitated with apprehension, nor troubled, neither by spirit, nor by discourse, nor by letter, as coming from us, as though the day of the Lord was instantly approaching. (3)Let no man deceive you in any way: because that cannot be till the apostasy come first, and the man of sin appear, the son of perdition, (4)who opposeth himself against, and exalteth himself above all that is called G.o.d, or is the object of adoration; so that he in the temple of G.o.d sitteth as G.o.d, exhibiting himself in public that he is G.o.d. (5)Do ye not remember that when I was yet with you, I told you these things? (6)And now ye know what withholdeth, that he may be revealed in his own time. (7)For the mystery of iniquity is already powerfully working; only he that withholdeth hitherto, will do so till he is removed. (8)And then that lawless person will appear, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming; (9)whose appearing is known by fanatical energy, displayed in all power, and signs, and lying miracles, (10)and in every unrighteous delusion among those who perish: in consequence of which things they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (11)And for this cause G.o.d shall send unto them the energy of delusion, that they should believe a lie: (12)that they all might be d.a.m.ned who have not believed the truth, but have taken pleasure in unrighteousness.
(13)But we are bound to give thanks always to G.o.d for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because G.o.d hath elected you from the beginning unto salvation, by sanctification of the Spirit, and faith in the truth: (14)whereunto also he called you by our gospel, in order to your acquisition of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (15)Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and firmly hold the injunctions delivered to you, as ye have been taught, whether by our discourse, or by letter.
(16)Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and our G.o.d, and Father, who hath loved us, and given us everlasting consolation, and good hope through grace, (17)comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
CHAP. III.
FINALLY, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run, and be glorified, even as among you; (2)and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for there is not faith in all. (3)But the Lord is faithful, who will stablish you, and keep you from the wicked one. (4)But we have confidence in the Lord towards you, that the things which we have enjoined you, ye both do, and will do. (5)And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of G.o.d, and into the patience of Christ.
(6)Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw yourselves from every brother who walketh disorderly, and not according to the injunction which he hath received from us. (7)For ye yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us; for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you, (8)neither did we eat bread with any man unpaid for, but with labour and toil worked night and day, that we might be burdensome to none of you: (9)not that we have not such power, but that we might be ourselves an example for you to imitate. (10)For when we were with you, this we enjoined you, that if a man would not work, neither should he eat. (11)For we hear that there are some among you who walk disorderly, doing no work, but being busy-bodies. (12)Now such we command, and conjure, by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they labour, and eat their own bread.
(13)But ye, brethren, be not weary of well doing. (14)And if any man obey not our word by letter, mark that man, and maintain no society with him, that he may be ashamed. (15)Yet regard him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. (16)And the Lord of peace himself give you peace, by every means, in every situation.
The Lord be with you all.
(17)The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is my sign in every letter: so I write.
(18)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
The second epistle was written to the Thessalonians from Athens.
THE FIRST EPISTLE OF THE APOSTLE PAUL TO TIMOTHY.
CHAP. I.
PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the order of G.o.d, our Saviour, and Lord, Jesus Christ, who is our hope; (2)to Timothy, my genuine son in faith: grace, mercy, and peace from G.o.d our Father, and Christ Jesus our Lord.
(3)As I exhorted thee to abide at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest enjoin certain persons to introduce no different doctrine, (4)nor to attend to fables and endless genealogies, which give occasion to disputes rather than G.o.dly edification, which is by faith; _so do_. (5)For the end of the commandment is love out of a clean heart, and good conscience, and faith unfeigned: (6)from which some, having swerved, have turned aside to vain babbling; (7)affecting to be doctors of the law, though they underhand neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. (8)But we know that the law is good if a man use it according to its inst.i.tution; (9)knowing this, that the law is not made for the just man, but for the lawless and disorderly, for the unG.o.dly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for men-slayers, (10)for wh.o.r.emongers, for sodomites, for stealers of men, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing which is contrary to sound doctrine, (11)according to the glorious gospel of the blessed G.o.d, with which I have been put in trust. (12)And I render thanks to him who hath strengthened me, even to Christ Jesus our Lord, that he hath counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; (13)who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and insolently violent, But I was admitted to mercy, for I did it ignorantly in unbelief; (14)but the grace of our Lord hath exceedingly abounded with faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus. (15)It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief. (16)But for this end obtained I mercy, that in me, the chief, Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to those who should after believe in him unto eternal life.
(17)Now to the king eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise G.o.d, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
(18)This commandment, son Timothy, I give thee, according to the prophecies which were before delivered concerning thee, that by them thou mightest war a good warfare; (19)holding faith and a good conscience, which some having renounced, as touching the faith, have been shipwrecked: (20)of whom are Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered over unto Satan, that they may be corrected, so as to blaspheme no more.
CHAP. II.
I EXHORT therefore, first of all, that there be offered supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings for the whole race of mankind: (2)for kings, and all that are in a state of eminence, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all G.o.dliness and seriousness. (3)For this is becoming, and acceptable before G.o.d our Saviour; (4)who wills all men to be saved, and come to the acknowledgment of truth. (5)For there is one G.o.d, and one mediator between G.o.d and men, the man Christ Jesus; (6)who gave himself a ransom for all, the testimony to be born in his appointed times; (7)of which I am ordained a preacher and apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, I lie not,) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
(8)I will then that men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands without wrath or doubting: (9)in like manner also that the women dress themselves in decent apparel, with modesty and sobriety; not with plaited tresses, or gold, or pearls, or very costly clothing, (10)but as becometh women professing G.o.dliness, with good works.
(11)Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection: (12)for I permit not a woman to teach in public, or to a.s.sume authority over the man, but to abide in silence. (13)For Adam was first formed, Eve afterwards. (14)And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, by transgression fell. (15)But she shall be saved through childbearing, if they abide in faith, and love, and holiness with sobriety.
CHAP. III.
IT is a true saying, If a man seeks the office of a bishop, he desireth a laudable employment. (2)A bishop then must be irreprehensible, the husband of one wife, temperate, sagacious, respectable, hospitable, well qualified for teaching; (3)not addicted to wine, not using hard words or blows, not greedy of base gain; but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money; (4)presiding over his own family with propriety, having his children under subjection with all gravity of behaviour: (5)for if a man knoweth not how to order his own family, how shall he take proper care of the church of G.o.d? (6)Not a new convert, lest he be puffed up, and fall into the devil"s crime. (7)He must also have a fair character from those who are without, that he may not fall into reproach, and into the snare of the devil.
(8)The deacons also in like manner must be grave, not doubletongued, not addicting themselves to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; (9)holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. (10)And let these also be first proved, and if found blameless, then let them enter on the deacon"s office.
(11)Their wives in like manner must be grave women, not addicted to scandal, sober, faithful in all things.
(12)Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ordering well their children and their own families. (13)For they who discharge the office of a deacon with propriety, acquire to themselves a respectable station _in the church_, and great boldness in the faith which is in Jesus Christ.
(14)These things I write to thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: (15)but should I be delayed, that thou mayest know how it behoveth thee to conduct thyself in the house of G.o.d, which is the church of the living G.o.d, the pillar and the pedestal of truth. (16)And confessedly great is the mystery of G.o.dliness: G.o.d was manifested in the flesh, justified by the Spirit, seen of angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
CHAP. IV.
NOW the Spirit speaketh expresly, that in the latter days some will apostatise from the faith, giving heed to spirits of delusion, and doctrines of devils; (2)men who teach lies with hypocrisy; and have their own consciences cauterised; (3)prohibiting marriage, and enjoining abstinence from particular meats, which G.o.d created to be received with thanksgiving by the faithful, and those who acknowledge the truth. (4)For every creature of G.o.d is good, and none to be rejected, if used with thanksgiving: (5)for it is sanctified by the word of G.o.d and prayer. (6)If thou suggest these truths to the brethren, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and sound doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
(7)But profane and antiquated fables reject, but exercise thyself unto G.o.dliness. (8)For bodily exercise is of little advantage, but G.o.dliness is profitable for all things, having the promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come. (9)This is a faithful saying, and deserving all acceptance. (10)For therefore do we labour and are exposed to abuse, because we have hoped in the living G.o.d, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of the faithful. (11)Announce and teach these things. (12)Let no man despise thy youth; but be a pattern of the faithful, in discourse; in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (13)Till I come, apply to reading, to exhortation, to teaching.
(14)Neglect not the gift which is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with imposition of the hands of the presbytery. (15)Let these things be thy care; be wholly devoted to them; that thy progress may be evident to all men. (16)Take heed unto thyself, and to thy doctrine; abide in them: for so doing thou shalt both save thyself, and those who hear thee.
CHAP. V.
REBUKE not harshly an aged man, but admonish him as a father; the younger men as brethren; (2)the aged women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. (3)Honour the widows, that are widows indeed.
(4)But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn as their first duty to shew their piety towards their own family, and make a grateful return to their progenitors: for this is becoming and acceptable before G.o.d. (5)But she who is a widow indeed, and abandoned to solitude, hopeth in G.o.d, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. (6)But she who lives voluptuously is dead, though she liveth. (7)And these things inculcate, that they may be blameless.
(8)But if any man provide not for his own relations, and especially for those more immediately of his own family, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
(9)Let no widow be put on the list under sixty years of age, who hath been the wife of one husband, (10)bringing attestation of her good works; that she hath well educated her children, that she hath been hospitable to strangers, that she hath washed the saints feet, that she hath a.s.sisted the afflicted, that she hath followed diligently every good work. (11)But the younger widows reject: for when they give themselves to wantonness contrary to Christ, they will marry; (12)incurring censure, for having violated their former engagement.
(13)And at the same time also they learn to be idle, visiting about in the houses; and not merely idle, but talkative and inquisitive, speaking things they ought not. (14)I would therefore have the younger widows to marry, bear children, govern their house, give no occasion to the adversary to bring a reproach on them. (15)For some are already turned aside after Satan. (16)But if any man or woman who believes hath widows their relations, let him provide for them, and let not the church be burdened; that there may be a sufficiency for the real widows.
(17)Let the elders who preside properly be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who are laborious in preaching and teaching.
(18)For the Scripture saith, "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox while he treadeth out the corn[119]." And again, "The labourer is worthy of his hire."
(19)Against a presbyter receive not an accusation, except it be from two or three witnesses. (20)Those who sin rebuke before all, that the rest also may tremble.
(21)I adjure thee before G.o.d, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality.
(22)Lay hands hastily on no man, nor share another"s sins: keep thyself pure; (23)confine thyself no longer to water-drinking; but use a little wine for thy stomach"s sake, and thy frequent indispositions. (24)Some men"s sins are glaringly manifest, going before to judgment; and after others also they follow _to detection_. (25)In like manner also the good works _of some_ are previously manifest; and it is not possible that what they have besides should be concealed.
CHAP. VI.
LET as many slaves as are under the yoke account their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of G.o.d and the doctrine be not blasphemed. (2)But they who have believing masters, let them not think less of them, because they are brethren; but serve them the rather, because they are faithful and beloved, who have equally partaken of the benefit. These things teach and enjoin. (3)If any man teach another doctrine, and attend not to the sound words, which are those of Jesus Christ our Lord, and to the doctrine which is according to G.o.dliness; (4)he is conceited, knowing nothing, but delirious with disputes and quarrels about words, from whence come wrath, contentions, evil speakings, wrong suspicions, (5)perverse wranglings of men corrupt in mind, and dest.i.tute of truth, who think to make gain of G.o.dliness; depart from such men. (6)But G.o.dliness with contentment is great gain.
(7)For that we brought nothing into the world is evident, neither can we carry any thing out of it. (8)Having then food and raiment, let us be therewith content. (9)For they who will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful pa.s.sions, which sink men in the abyss of destruction and perdition. (10)For the love of money is the root of all evils, which some coveting, have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
(11)But thou, O man of G.o.d, flee from these things; but pursue righteousness, G.o.dliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. (12)Strain every nerve in the n.o.ble conflict of faith, lay fast hold on eternal life, unto which also thou hast been called, and hast confessed the good confession before many witnesses.
(13)I conjure thee in the presence of G.o.d, who giveth life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who witnessed that n.o.ble confession before Pontius Pilate; (14)that thou observe this injunction spotless, irreproachable, unto the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: (15)which in his own appointed times he will shew forth, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; (16)who alone possesseth immortality, inhabiting light inaccessible, whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and glory eternal. Amen.