13 and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for the sake of their office. Be at peace among yourselves'. 14 And we exhort you, brethren, admonish those that are dis orderly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be 15 long-suffering toward all men. See that none render evil : for evil to any man; but always follow that which is good, 16 [both] toward one another and toward all men. Rejoice al17 18 ways. Pray without ceasing. For every thing give thanks for this is the will of God through Christ Jesus 19 20 concerning you. Quench not the spirit. Despise not 21 prophesyings: but prove all things; hold fast that which 22 23 is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And may the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly: and may your whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved unblame24 ably to the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful 25 is he who calleth you; and he will also do this. Brethren, 26 27 pray for us. Salute all the brethren with a holy kiss. I adjure you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the 28 [holy] brethren. The favour of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. * * Amen. R. T. and N. The first to the Thessalonians was written from Athens. R. T. THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE THESSALONIANS. CHAPTER I. 1 PAUL, and Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians which is in God our Father, and in our 2 Lord Jesus Christ: Favour be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We ought to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fit, that your faith increaseth exceedingly, and that the love 4 of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth: so that we ourselves glory in you among the churches of God, for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and afflic5 tions which ye endure; for a manifestation of the just judgement of God, and to the end that ye may be rendered worthy1 6 of the kingdom of God, for which ye even suffer since it is a just thing with God, to recompense affliction to those who 7 afflict you: but to you that are afflicted, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be manifested from heaven, with his 8 mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our 9 Lord Jesus [Christ]: and these shall suffer punishment, even everlasting destruction, from the face of the Lord, and 10 from the glory of his powers: when he shall come in that day to be glorified by his saints, and to be admired by all those that have believed: (for our testimony among you 11 hath been believed.) To which end we pray also for you always, that our God would render you worthy of this call2 Gr. the angels of his might. 3 Or, his glothat great day, N. 4 1" counted worthy," N. rious power: N. m. ing, and accomplish with power every kind intention of be12 neficence and work of faith': that the name of our Lord Jesus [Christ] may be glorified by you, and ye by him, according to the favour of our God and of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 CH. II. Now we beseech you, brethren, concerning the ap pearance of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering to2 gether unto him, that ye be not easily shaken from your judgement, or troubled either by revelation of the spirit, or by word, or by epistle, as from us, that the day of the Lord3 3 is instantly coming *. Let no man deceive you by any means for that day will not come, unless there come a falling away first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of 4 destruction; who opposeth, and exalteth himself above, every one that is called god, or the object of worship: so that he sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself to be a 5 god. Remember ye not that, when I was yet with you, I 6 told you these things? And now ye know what hindereth; 7 to the end that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of unrighteousness already worketh: only he who now hindereth will hinder, until he be taken out of the 8 way. And then the unrighteous one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will consume with the breath of his mouth, 9 and will destroy with the brightness of his appearance: even him, whose appearance is according to the working of Sa 6 1 See Wakefield. count you worthy of this calling, and accomplish all the gracious pleasure of his goodness, and your work of faith with power,” N. 2 i. e. gratuitous goodness, N. m. Or, gracious gospel. 3 the day of Christ, as God he sitteth, &c. R. T. 5 Or, only there is who now hin dereth, until, &c. N. m. 6 "Jesus" is wanting in R. T. R. T. dicitur de re præ. See Chandler. near, N. Nempe hoc anno; nam senti. Rom. viii. 38. 1 Cor. iii. 22. Grotius. The apostle had never affirmed that the second coming of Christ was to take place instantaneously, or that very year, as he knew that some important events were to intervene. But this is by no means inconsistent with the supposition that he might expect this event to take place before the decease of some who were then living. See the note upon 1 Thess. iv. 15. 10 tan, with all false miracles and signs and wonders', and with all iniquitous deceit among those that are lost; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be 11 saved. And for this cause God will send them a mighty 12 working of error, that they should believe falsehood; so 13 that all will be condemned who believe not the truth, but have pleasure in iniquity. But we ought to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, that God from the beginning chose you to salvation, through sanctification of the spirit, 14 and through belief of the truth: for which end, he hath callyou by the gospel which we preach 5, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ed 15 So then, brethren, stand firmly, and hold fast the tradi tions which ye have been taught, whether by our word or 16 epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and our God and Father, that hath loved us, and hath given us ever17 lasting comfort and good hope through his favour, comfort your hearts, and establish [you] in every good doctrine and work. CH. III. FINALLY, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is 2 among you; and that we may be delivered from unreason3 able and wicked men: for all have not faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you, and keep you from evil. 4 And we have confidence through the Lord, concerning you, that ye both do, and will do, the things which we command 5 you. And may the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God, and to the patient waiting for Christ. 6 Now, we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw yourselves from every bro ther that walketh irregularly, and not according to the tra 1 Gr. power and signs and wonders of falsehood. 2 Gr. deceit of iniquity, 7" in a 7 dition' which they received from us. For yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us; for we behaved not ourselves 8 in a disorderly way among you: nor did we eat bread from any man for nothing; but worked with labour and toil, night and day, that we might not be burthensome to any of 9 you: not because we have no right; but to make ourselves 10 an example to you, that ye might imitate us. For, when we were with you, this we commanded you, that, if any be 11 not willing to work, neither let him eat. For we hear that there are some that walk among you in a disorderly way, doing no business, but prying into the business of others. 12 Now those that are such we command, and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that they do their own business with 13 quiet, and eat their own bread. But, brethren, be not ye 14 weary in well-doing. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, mark that man, [and] keep not company 15 with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as 16 an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace ever in every manner. The Lord be with you all. 17 The salutation by the hand of me Paul; which is my 18 token in every epistle: thus I write. The favour of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. [Amen.]* 1i. e. doctrine, N. m. 2 which he received, R. T. Christ: i. e. as Christians, Mss. 3 in the Lord Jesus 4 Or, in every place. Mss. The second to the Thessalonians was written from Athens. R. T. |
