1 Thessalonians 4-5 - LSB - Legacy Standard Bible

1 Thessalonians 4-5

Sanctification and Love

^aFinally then, ^bbrothers, we ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us as to how you ought to ¹^cwalk and ^dplease God (just as you actually do ¹walk), that you ^eexcel still more. 2 For you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you ^aabstain from ¹sexual immorality; 4 that ^aeach of you know how to ¹possess his own ²^bvessel in sanctification and ^chonor, 5 not in ¹^alustful passion, like the Gentiles who ^bdo not know God; 6 and that no man transgress and ^adefraud his brother ^bin the matter because ^cthe Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also ^dtold you before and solemnly warned you. 7 For ^aGod did not call us to ^bimpurity, but ¹in sanctification. 8 Consequently, he who sets this aside is not setting aside man but the God who ^agives His Holy Spirit to you.
9 Now concerning ^alove of the brothers, you ^bhave no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are ^ctaught by God to love one another, 10 for indeed ^ayou do practice it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to ^bexcel still more, 11 and to make it your ambition ^ato lead a quiet life and ^battend to your own business and ^cwork with your hands, just as we commanded you, 12 so that you will ^awalk properly toward ^boutsiders and ¹^cnot be in any need.

The Dead in Christ Will Rise

13 But ^awe do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who ^bare asleep, so that you will not grieve as do ^cthe rest who have ^dno hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, ^aeven so God will bring with Him ^bthose who have fallen asleep ¹in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you ^aby the word of the Lord, that ^bwe who are alive ¹and remain until ^cthe coming of the Lord, will not precede ^dthose who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord ^aHimself ^bwill descend from heaven with a ¹^cshout, with the voice of ^dthe archangel and with the ^etrumpet of God, and ^fthe dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then ^awe who are alive ¹and remain will be ^bcaught up together with them ^cin the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always ^dbe with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

The Day of the Lord

Now concerning the ^atimes and the seasons, brothers, you ^bhave no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that ^athe day of the Lord ¹will come ^bjust like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, “^aPeace and safety!” then ¹^bdestruction ²will come upon them suddenly like ^clabor pains upon a woman who is pregnant, and they will never escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in ^adarkness, that the day would overtake you ¹^blike a thief, 5 for you are all ^asons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of ^bdarkness; 6 so then let us not ^asleep as ¹^bothers do, but let us be awake and ²^csober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get ^adrunk at night. 8 But since ^awe are of the day, let us ^bbe ¹sober, having put on the ^cbreastplate of ^dfaith and love, and as a ^ehelmet, the ^fhope of salvation. 9 For God has not appointed us for ^awrath, but for ^bobtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 ^awho died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11 Therefore, ¹comfort one another and ^abuild up one another, just as you also are doing.

Admonishment and Instruction

12 But we ask of you, brothers, that you ^aknow those ^bwho labor among you, and ^clead you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and that you regard them very highly in love because of their work. ^aLive in peace with one another. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish ^athe ¹unruly, encourage ^bthe fainthearted, help ^cthe weak, be ^dpatient with everyone. 15 See that ^ano one repays another with evil for evil, but always ^bseek after that which is good for one another and for all people. 16 ^aRejoice always; 17 ^apray without ceasing; 18 in everything ^agive thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 ^aDo not quench the Spirit; 20 do not despise ^aprophecies, 21 but ^aexamine all things; ^bhold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every ¹form of evil.
23 Now ^amay the God of peace ^bHimself sanctify you entirely, and may your ^cspirit and soul and body be preserved complete, ^dwithout blame at ^ethe coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 ^aFaithful is He who ^bcalls you, who also will do it.
25 Brothers, ^apray for us¹.
26 ^aGreet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I implore you by the Lord to ^ahave this letter read to all the ^bbrothers.
28 ^aThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.