1 Thessalonians
1 Acts 17:1
6 Acts 17:5-9
6 Geza Vermes, The Changing Faces of Jesus, p. 109 f.
The Changing Faces of Jesus
As next best [Paul] could have advised his followers to copy the example of Christ, but since there is little concrete about the Jesus of Paul, he instructed his novice Gentile Christians to follow his own example or the example of his close companions, who modeled themselves on Paul (1 Thess. 1:6). In the first letter to the Corinthians, Paul set himself as the focal point: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1), and with even more emphasis he exhorted the faithful, “I urge you then, be imitators of me” (1 Cor. 4:16).
… Paul’s recommendation to them to do as he himself did established a new religious stance in which the worshipper found himself at one remove from Christ and at two removes from God. With a distant Father and a faceless Christ Paul’s advice was reassuring for diffident new Christians; they could observe at close quarters someone they could trust. Thus began a trend, still conspicuous in Catholic and Orthodox Christianity, to introduce models, mediators, and intercessors between the believer and God. These intermediaries were Christ and Paul, and later (under Johannine inspiration) Mary … Incidentally, it is quite amusing that St. Paul, the bastion of the Reformation (surely we must not call him its patron saint!), appears to be responsible for the legitimization of go-betweens, leading to that pet hatred of Protestants, the cult of the saints, and above all to “Maryolatry” …
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace.
2 We give thanks to God always for you all, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brethren beloved by God, that he has chosen you; 5 for our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit; 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us what a welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
1:1 παυλος και σιλουανος και τιμοθεος
τη εκκλησια θεσσαλονικεων εν θεω πατρι και κυριω ιησου χριστω
χαρις υμιν και ειρηνη απο θεου πατρος ημων και κυριου ιησου χριστου
1:2 ευχαριστουμεν τω θεω παντοτε περι παντων υμων μνειαν υμων ποιουμενοι επι των προσευχων ημων 1:3 αδιαλειπτως μνημονευοντες υμων του εργου της πιστεως και του κοπου της αγαπης και της υπομονης της ελπιδος του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου εμπροσθεν του θεου και πατρος ημων 1:4 ειδοτες αδελφοι ηγαπημενοι υπο θεου την εκλογην υμων 1:5 οτι το ευαγγελιον ημων ουκ εγενηθη εις υμας εν λογω μονον αλλα και εν δυναμει και εν πνευματι αγιω και εν πληροφορια πολλη καθως οιδατε οιοι εγενηθημεν εν υμιν δι υμας 1:6 και υμεις μιμηται ημων εγενηθητε και του κυριου δεξαμενοι τον λογον εν θλιψει πολλη μετα χαρας πνευματος αγιου 1:7 ωστε γενεσθαι υμας τυπους πασιν τοις πιστευουσιν εν τη μακεδονια και τη αχαια 1:8 αφ υμων γαρ εξηχηται ο λογος του κυριου ου μονον εν τη μακεδονια και εν τη αχαια αλλα και εν παντι τοπω η πιστις υμων η προς τον θεον εξεληλυθεν ωστε μη χρειαν ημας εχειν λαλειν τι 1:9 αυτοι γαρ περι ημων απαγγελλουσιν οποιαν εισοδον αβπρος υμας και πως επεστρεψατε προς τον θεον απο των ειδωλων δουλευειν θεω ζωντι και αληθινω 1:10 και αναμενειν τον υιον αυτου εκ των ουρανων ον ηγειρεν εκ των νεκρων ιησουν τον ρυομενον ημας απο της οργης της ερχομενης
2 Acts 16:19-24, 17:1-9
4 Galatians 1:10
14 Acts 17:5
1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our visit to you was not in vain; 2 but though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the face of great opposition. 3 For our appeal does not spring from error or uncleanness, nor is it made with guile; 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please men, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 For we never used either words of flattery, as you know, or a cloak for greed, as God is witness; 6 nor did we seek glory from men, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nurse taking care of her children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
9 For you remember our labor and toil, brethren; we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you, while we preached to you the gospel of God.10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our behavior to you believers; 11 for you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you 12 to lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus which are in Judea; for you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all men 16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they may be saved — so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But God’s wrath has come upon them at last!
17 But since we were bereft of you, brethren, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face; 18 because we wanted to come to you — I, Paul, again and again — but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
2:1 αυτοι γαρ οιδατε αδελφοι την εισοδον ημων την προς υμας οτι ου κενη γεγονεν 2:2 αλλα προπαθοντες και υβρισθεντες καθως οιδατε εν φιλιπποις επαρρησιασαμεθα εν τω θεω ημων λαλησαι προς υμας το ευαγγελιον του θεου εν πολλω αγωνι 2:3 η γαρ παρακλησις ημων ουκ εκ πλανης ουδε εξ ακαθαρσιας ουτε εν δολω 2:4 αλλα καθως δεδοκιμασμεθα υπο του θεου πιστευθηναι το ευαγγελιον ουτως λαλουμεν ουχ ως ανθρωποις αρεσκοντες αλλα τω θεω τω δοκιμαζοντι τας καρδιας ημων 2:5 ουτε γαρ ποτε εν λογω κολακειας εγενηθημεν καθως οιδατε ουτε εν προφασει πλεονεξιας θεος μαρτυς 2:6 ουτε ζητουντες εξ ανθρωπων δοξαν ουτε αφ υμων ουτε απο αλλων 2:7 δυναμενοι εν βαρει ειναι ως χριστου αποστολοι 2:7 αλλ εγενηθημεν ηπιοι εν μεσω υμων ως αν τροφος θαλπη τα εαυτης τεκνα 2:8 ουτως ομειρομενοι υμων ευδοκουμεν μεταδουναι υμιν ου μονον το ευαγγελιον του θεου αλλα και τας εαυτων ψυχας διοτι αγαπητοι ημιν γεγενησθε
2:9 μνημονευετε γαρ αδελφοι τον κοπον ημων και τον μοχθον νυκτος γαρ και ημερας εργαζομενοι προς το μη επιβαρησαι τινα υμων εκηρυξαμεν εις υμας το ευαγγελιον του θεου 2:10 υμεις μαρτυρες και ο θεος ως οσιως και δικαιως και αμεμπτως υμιν τοις πιστευουσιν εγενηθημεν 2:11 καθαπερ οιδατε ως ενα εκαστον υμων ως πατηρ τεκνα εαυτου παρακαλουντες υμας και παραμυθουμενοι 2:12 και μαρτυρομενοι εις το περιπατησαι υμας αξιως του θεου του καλουντος υμας εις την εαυτου βασιλειαν και δοξαν
2:13 δια τουτο και ημεις ευχαριστουμεν τω θεω αδιαλειπτως οτι παραλαβοντες λογον ακοης παρ ημων του θεου εδεξασθε ου λογον ανθρωπων αλλα καθως εστιν αληθως λογον θεου ος και ενεργειται εν υμιν τοις πιστευουσιν 2:14 υμεις γαρ μιμηται εγενηθητε αδελφοι των εκκλησιων του θεου των ουσων εν τη ιουδαια εν χριστω ιησου οτι τα αυτα επαθετε και υμεις υπο των ιδιων συμφυλετων καθως και αυτοι υπο των ιουδαιων 2:15 των και τον κυριον αποκτειναντων ιησουν και τους ιδιους προφητας και αβεκδιωξαντων και θεω μη αρεσκοντων και πασιν ανθρωποις εναντιων 2:16 κωλυοντων ημας τοις εθνεσιν λαλησαι ινα σωθωσιν εις το αναπληρωσαι αυτων τας αμαρτιας παντοτε εφθασεν δε επ αυτους η οργη εις τελος
2:17 ημεις δε αδελφοι απορφανισθεντες αφ υμων προς καιρον ωρας προσωπω ου καρδια περισσοτερως εσπουδασαμεν το προσωπον υμων ιδειν εν πολλη επιθυμια 2:18 διο ηθελησαμεν ελθειν προς υμας εγω μεν παυλος και απαξ και δις και ενεκοψεν ημας ο σατανας 2:19 τις γαρ ημων ελπις η χαρα η στεφανος καυχησεως η ουχι και υμεις εμπροσθεν του κυριου ημων ιησου εν τη αυτου παρουσια 2:20 υμεις γαρ εστε η δοξα ημων και η χαρα
1 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s servant in the gospel of Christ, to establish you in your faith and to exhort you, 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. You yourselves know that this is to be our lot. 4 For when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction; just as it has come to pass, and as you know. 5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent that I might know your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and that our labor would be in vain.
6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you -7 for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith; 8 for now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanksgiving can we render to God for you, for all the joy which we feel for your sake before our God, 10 praying earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?
11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you; 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all men, as we do to you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
3:1 διο μηκετι στεγοντες ευδοκησαμεν καταλειφθηναι εν αθηναις μονοι 3:2 και επεμψαμεν τιμοθεον τον αδελφον ημων και διακονον του θεου και συνεργον ημων εν τω ευαγγελιω του χριστου εις το στηριξαι υμας και παρακαλεσαι υμας περι της πιστεως υμων 3:3 το μηδενα σαινεσθαι εν ταις θλιψεσιν ταυταις αυτοι γαρ οιδατε οτι εις τουτο κειμεθα 3:4 και γαρ οτε προς υμας ημεν προελεγομεν υμιν οτι μελλομεν θλιβεσθαι καθως και εγενετο και οιδατε 3:5 δια τουτο καγω μηκετι στεγων επεμψα εις το γνωναι την πιστιν υμων μηπως επειρασεν υμας ο πειραζων και εις κενον γενηται ο κοπος ημων
3:6 αρτι δε ελθοντος τιμοθεου προς ημας αφ υμων και ευαγγελισαμενου ημιν την πιστιν και την αγαπην υμων και οτι εχετε μνειαν ημων αγαθην παντοτε επιποθουντες ημας ιδειν καθαπερ και ημεις υμας 3:7 δια τουτο παρεκληθημεν αδελφοι εφ υμιν επι παση τη θλιψει και αναγκη ημων δια της υμων πιστεως 3:8 οτι νυν ζωμεν εαν υμεις στηκετε εν κυριω 3:9 τινα γαρ ευχαριστιαν δυναμεθα τω θεω ανταποδουναι περι υμων επι παση τη χαρα η χαιρομεν δι υμας εμπροσθεν του θεου ημων 3:10 νυκτος και ημερας υπερ εκπερισσου δεομενοι εις το ιδειν υμων το προσωπον και καταρτισαι τα υστερηματα της πιστεως υμων
3:11 αυτος δε ο θεος και πατηρ ημων και ο κυριος ημων ιησους χριστος κατευθυναι την οδον ημων προς υμας 3:12 υμας δε ο κυριος πλεονασαι και περισσευσαι τη αγαπη εις αλληλους και εις παντας καθαπερ και ημεις εις υμας 3:13 εις το στηριξαι υμων τας καρδιας αμεμπτους εν αγιωσυνη εμπροσθεν του θεου και πατρος ημων εν τη παρουσια του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου μετα παντων των αγιων αυτου
13 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17, 5:24
15-17 1 Corinthians 15:51-52
16-17 Acts 1:9-11
1-12 Lisa Sowle Cahill, “Sexual Ethics,” Interpretation (January 1995), p. 11 f.
“Sexual Ethics,”
Pheme Perkins points out that the early Christians were resocialized from the patriarchal family of society and state to the new family of brothers and sisters in Christ. The bonds of holiness in the community required both economic and sexual self-restraint. … the focus of the concern was the unity of the community, not the perfection of the individual.
13-18 John Dominic Crossan, The Historical Jesus, p. 244
13 Oscar Romero, The Violence of Love, p. 129
15-17 John Dominic Crossan, In Search of Paul, p. 167-171
In Search of Paul
The Thessalonians question concerns the relative status of those dead and those alive at the Lord’s parousia, or coming from heaven to earth. The Thessalonians were worried that those who had already died might somehow be disadvantaged at the parousia. Had those Thessalonians died natural deaths or had they been martyred during that persecution because of Paul? The latter alternative seems most likely … (p. 168)
What is Paul’s source for that claim? It is, quite bluntly, neither faith nor hope, neither tradition nor theology, but an absolutely magnificent act of consolation based on a brilliant use of metaphor.
First of all, the metaphor of formal urban visitation gives Paul a powerful visual answer to the question of the Thessalonians. Any important visitor coming along the major road to an ancient city would first meet the dead before they were greeted by the living … if you put that destroyed and quarried necropolis back in its original format, you can easily imagine an imperial visitor meeting first the elite dead before any meeting with the elite living. And, of course, says Paul, dancing fast and fancy on his theological feet, that is how things will be at the parousia of Christ. We will not all go up together, but first the dead, then the living.
Second, the parousia metaphor means that Christians do not ascend to stay with Christ in heaven, but to return with him to this transformed world. … The metaphor of parousia as state visit would presume that those going out to greet the approaching ruler would return with him for festive rejoicing within their city. …
Third, we translate parousia as the “return” or “second coming” of Christ. It is perfectly correct that Paul is not just talking about one more visitation among many from Christ. It is the great final eschatological visitation. But nobody ever thought that the emperor was only present at a visitation. He was always present on coins, in statues, through altars, temples, and forums. So also with Christ. It is better not to use translations for parousia that in any way imply a prior absence. (p. 169 ff.)
16 Flora Slosson Wuellner, “Blow the Great Trumpet for our Liberation,” Weavings (November/December 1997), p. 9
1 Finally, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God, just as you are doing, you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from unchastity; 4 that each one of you know how to take a wife for himself in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like heathen who do not know God; 6 that no man transgress, and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we solemnly forewarned you. 7 For God has not called us for uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
9 But concerning love of the brethren you have no need to have any one write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you do love all the brethren throughout Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, to do so more and more, 11 to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we charged you; 12 so that you may command the respect of outsiders, and be dependent on nobody.
13 But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; 17 then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
4:1 [το] λοιπον ουν αδελφοι ερωτωμεν υμας και παρακαλουμεν εν κυριω ιησου καθως παρελαβετε παρ ημων το πως δει υμας περιπατειν και αρεσκειν θεω ινα περισσευητε μαλλον 4:2 οιδατε γαρ τινας παραγγελιας εδωκαμεν υμιν δια του κυριου ιησου 4:3 τουτο γαρ εστιν θελημα του θεου ο αγιασμος υμων απεχεσθαι υμας απο της πορνειας 4:4 ειδεναι εκαστον υμων το εαυτου σκευος κτασθαι εν αγιασμω και τιμη 4:5 μη εν παθει επιθυμιας καθαπερ και τα εθνη τα μη ειδοτα τον θεον 4:6 το μη υπερβαινειν και πλεονεκτειν εν τω πραγματι τον αδελφον αυτου διοτι εκδικος ο κυριος περι παντων τουτων καθως και προειπομεν υμιν και διεμαρτυραμεθα 4:7 ου γαρ εκαλεσεν ημας ο θεος επι ακαθαρσια αλλ εν αγιασμω 4:8 τοιγαρουν ο αθετων ουκ ανθρωπον αθετει αλλα τον θεον τον και δοντα το πνευμα αυτου το αγιον εις υμας
4:9 περι δε της φιλαδελφιας ου χρειαν εχετε γραφειν υμιν αυτοι γαρ υμεις θεοδιδακτοι εστε εις το αγαπαν αλληλους 4:10 και γαρ ποιειτε αυτο εις παντας τους αδελφους τους εν ολη τη μακεδονια παρακαλουμεν δε υμας αδελφοι περισσευειν μαλλον 4:11 και φιλοτιμεισθαι ησυχαζειν και πρασσειν τα ιδια και εργαζεσθαι ταις ιδιαις χερσιν υμων καθως υμιν παρηγγειλαμεν 4:12 ινα περιπατητε ευσχημονως προς τους εξω και μηδενος χρειαν εχητε
4:13 ου θελομεν δε υμας αγνοειν αδελφοι περι των κεκοιμημενων ινα μη λυπησθε καθως και οι λοιποι οι μη εχοντες ελπιδα 4:14 ει γαρ πιστευομεν οτι ιησους απεθανεν και ανεστη ουτως και ο θεος τους κοιμηθεντας δια του ιησου αξει συν αυτω 4:15 τουτο γαρ υμιν λεγομεν εν λογω κυριου οτι ημεις οι ζωντες οι περιλειπομενοι εις την παρουσιαν του κυριου ου μη φθασωμεν τους κοιμηθεντας 4:16 οτι αυτος ο κυριος εν κελευσματι εν φωνη αρχαγγελου και εν σαλπιγγι θεου καταβησεται απ ουρανου και οι νεκροι εν χριστω αναστησονται πρωτον 4:17 επειτα ημεις οι ζωντες οι περιλειπομενοι αμα συν αυτοις αρπαγησομεθα εν νεφελαις εις απαντησιν του κυριου εις αερα και ουτως παντοτε συν κυριω εσομεθα 4:18 ωστε παρακαλειτε αλληλους εν τοις λογοις τουτοις
2-3 Ivan Steiger, Ivan Steiger Sees the Bible, p. 303
2 John Dominic Crossan, “Knowing the Danger,” The Historical Jesus, p. 251
3 John Dominic Crossan, In Search of Paul, p. 167
In Search of Paul
But the mantric slogan of “peace and security,” seen , for example, on an altar from Italian Praeneste (figure 58), was precisely what Rome promised and delivered to its conquered provinces. There is, Paul says, an imminent catastrophic threat to that Julio-Claudian serenity, and he openly mocks its imperial complacency. (p. 167)
4-8 John Dominic Crossan, In Search of Paul, p. 172 f.
In Search of Paul
There is clearly causality and continuity between the bodily resurrection of the Thessalonian Christians in the future … Furthermore, in between those past and future moments, the present Thessalonian Christians are not just waiting for “the day of the Lord” (5:2), not just ready “for the day” (5:4), but are actually already in it, with it, and belonging to its light (5:5, 8). In other words, resurrectional transformation is process, not instant, period, not moment. But that is something absolutely and creatively new within Pharisaic Judaism’s theology of the general bodily resurrection. (p. 173)
8-11 Ivan Steiger, Ivan Steiger Sees the Bible, p. 304
17 Augustine, “Food for Thought,” The Plough Reader (Autumn 2002), p. 20
“Food for Thought”
The desire of your heart is itself your prayer. And if the desire is constant, so is your prayer. The apostle Paul had a purpose in saying: “Pray without ceasing.” Are we then ceaselessly to bend our knees, to lie prostrate, or to lift up our hands? Is this what is meant in saying: “Pray without ceasing”? Even if we admit that we pray in this fashion, I do not believe that we can do so all the time. Yet there is another, interior kind of prayer without ceasing, namely, the desire of the heart. Whatever else you may be doing, if you but fix your desire on God… your prayer will be ceaseless. Therefore if you wish to pray without ceasing, do not cease to desire. The constancy of your desire will itself be the ceaseless voice of your prayer. And that voice of your prayer will be silent only when your love ceases.
17 Wendell Berry, “2004 – III,” This Day, p. 252
17 Annie Dillard, “John 17:11,” Imaging the Word, Vol. 3, p. 219
“John 17:11”
The silence is all there is. It is the alpha and the omega. It is God’s brooding over the face of the waters; it is the blended note of the ten thousand things, the whine of wings. You take a step in the right direction to pray to this silence, and even to address the prayer to “World.” Distinctions blur. Quit your tents. Pray without ceasing.
18 Albert Schweitzer, A Place for Revelation, p. 122-128
A Place for Revelation
19-21 Oscar Romero, The Violence of Love, p. 130
The Violence of Love
My role as pastor is what St. Paul tells me today: “Do not quench the Spirit.”
If I say in an authoritarian way to a priest: “Don’t do that!” or to a community: “Don’t go that way!” and try to set myself up as if I were the Holy spirit and set about making a church to my liking, I would be quenching the Spirit.”
1 But as to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 When people say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as travail comes upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But, since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
12 But we beseech you, brethren, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray constantly, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit, 20 do not despise prophesying, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good, 22 abstain from every form of evil.
23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. 27 I adjure you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brethren.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
5:1 περι δε των χρονων και των καιρων αδελφοι ου χρειαν εχετε υμιν γραφεσθαι 5:2 αυτοι γαρ ακριβως οιδατε οτι η ημερα κυριου ως κλεπτης εν νυκτι ουτως ερχεται 5:3 οταν γαρ λεγωσιν ειρηνη και ασφαλεια τοτε αιφνιδιος αυτοις εφισταται ολεθρος ωσπερ η ωδιν τη εν γαστρι εχουση και ου μη εκφυγωσιν 5:4 υμεις δε αδελφοι ουκ εστε εν σκοτει ινα η ημερα υμας ως κλεπτης καταλαβη 5:5 παντες υμεις υιοι φωτος εστε και υιοι ημερας ουκ εσμεν νυκτος ουδε σκοτους 5:6 αρα ουν μη καθευδωμεν ως και οι λοιποι αλλα γρηγορωμεν και νηφωμεν 5:7 οι γαρ καθευδοντες νυκτος καθευδουσιν και οι μεθυσκομενοι νυκτος μεθυουσιν 5:8 ημεις δε ημερας οντες νηφωμεν ενδυσαμενοι θωρακα πιστεως και αγαπης και περικεφαλαιαν ελπιδα σωτηριας 5:9 οτι ουκ εθετο ημας ο θεος εις οργην αλλ εις περιποιησιν σωτηριας δια του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου 5:10 του αποθανοντος υπερ ημων ινα ειτε γρηγορωμεν ειτε καθευδωμεν αμα συν αυτω ζησωμεν 5:11 διο παρακαλειτε αλληλους και οικοδομειτε εις τον ενα καθως και ποιειτε
5:12 ερωτωμεν δε υμας αδελφοι ειδεναι τους κοπιωντας εν υμιν και προισταμενους υμων εν κυριω και νουθετουντας υμας 5:13 και ηγεισθαι αυτους υπερ εκπερισσου εν αγαπη δια το εργον αυτων ειρηνευετε εν εαυτοις 5:14 παρακαλουμεν δε υμας αδελφοι νουθετειτε τους ατακτους παραμυθεισθε τους ολιγοψυχους αντεχεσθε των ασθενων μακροθυμειτε προς παντας 5:15 ορατε μη τις κακον αντι κακου τινι αποδω αλλα παντοτε το αγαθον διωκετε και εις αλληλους και εις παντας 5:16 παντοτε χαιρετε 5:17 αδιαλειπτως προσευχεσθε 5:18 εν παντι ευχαριστειτε τουτο γαρ θελημα θεου εν χριστω ιησου εις υμας 5:19 το πνευμα μη σβεννυτε 5:20 προφητειας μη εξουθενειτε 5:21 παντα δε δοκιμαζετε το καλον κατεχετε 5:22 απο παντος ειδους πονηρου απεχεσθε
5:23 αυτος δε ο θεος της ειρηνης αγιασαι υμας ολοτελεις και ολοκληρον υμων το πνευμα και η ψυχη και το σωμα αμεμπτως εν τη παρουσια του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου τηρηθειη 5:24 πιστος ο καλων υμας ος και ποιησει
5:25 αδελφοι προσευχεσθε περι ημων
5:26 ασπασασθε τους αδελφους παντας εν φιληματι αγιω 5:27 ορκιζω υμας τον κυριον αναγνωσθηναι την επιστολην πασιν τοις αγιοις αδελφοις
5:28 η χαρις του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου μεθ υμων αμην