I Timothy 6

Honor Masters

1 Let as manybondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God andHisdoctrine may not be blasphemed.

2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despisethembecause they are brethren, but rather servethembecause those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

Error and Greed

3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent towholesome words,eventhe words of our Lord Jesus Christ,and to the doctrine which accords with godliness,

4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,

5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is ameansofgain. Fromsuch withdraw yourself.

6 Now godliness withcontentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing intothisworld, and it iscertain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall becontent.

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, andintomany foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money is a root of allkindsofevil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

The Good Confession

11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, andbeforeChrist Jesuswho witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate,

14 that you keepthiscommandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing,

15 which He will manifest in His own time,Hewhoisthe blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

16 who alone has immortality, dwelling inunapproachable light,whom no man has seen or can see, to whombehonor and everlasting power. Amen.

Instructions to the Rich

17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertainriches but in the living God, who gives us richly all thingsto enjoy.

18 Letthemdo good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,

19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Guard the Faith

20 O Timothy!Guard what was committed to your trust,avoiding the profaneandidle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—

21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.

Gracebewith you. Amen.

II Thessalonians 1

Greeting

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s Final Judgment and Glory

3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,

4 so thatwe ourselves boast of you among the churches of Godfor your patience and faithin all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,

5 whichismanifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God,for which you also suffer;

6 sinceitisa righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you,

7 and togiveyou who are troubledrest with us whenthe Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,

8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord andfrom the glory of His power,

10 when He comes, in that Day,to beglorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God wouldcount you worthy ofthiscalling, and fulfill all the good pleasure ofHisgoodness andthe work of faith with power,

12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

II Thessalonians 2

The Great Apostasy

1 Now, brethren,concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christand our gathering together to Him, we ask you,

2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.

3 Let no one deceive you by any means; forthatDaywillnotcomeunless the falling away comes first, andthe man of sin is revealed,the son of perdition,

4 who opposes andexalts himselfabove all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?

6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.

7 Forthe mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrainswilldosountil He is taken out of the way.

8 And then the lawless one will be revealed,whom the Lord will consumewith the breath of His mouth and destroywith the brightness of His coming.

9 The coming of thelawlessoneisaccording to the working of Satan, with all power,signs, and lying wonders,

10 and with all unrighteous deception amongthose who perish, because they did not receivethe love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 Andfor this reason God will send them strong delusion,that they should believe the lie,

12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth buthad pleasure in unrighteousness.

Stand Fast

13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because Godfrom the beginningchose you for salvationthrough sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,

14 to which He called you by our gospel, forthe obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15 Therefore, brethren,stand fast and holdthe traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father,who has loved us and givenuseverlasting consolation andgood hope by grace,

17 comfort your heartsand establish you in every good word and work.

II Thessalonians 3

Pray for Us

1 Finally, brethren,pray for us, that the word of the Lord may runswiftlyand be glorified, just asitiswith you,

2 andthat we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men;for not all have faith.

3 Butthe Lord is faithful, who will establish you andguardyoufrom the evil one.

4 Andwe have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you.

5 Now maythe Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

Warning Against Idleness

6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,that you withdrawfrom every brother who walksdisorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.

7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you;

8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked withlabor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you,

9 not because we do not haveauthority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.

11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but arebusybodies.

12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christthat they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

13 Butasforyou, brethren,do not grow wearyindoing good.

14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person anddo not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.

15 Yet do not counthimas an enemy,but admonishhimas a brother.

Benediction

16 Now maythe Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lordbewith you all.

17 The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christbewith you all. Amen.

I Thessalonians 1

Greeting

1 Paul,Silvanus, and Timothy,

# To the church of theThessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Their Good Example

2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,

3 remembering without ceasingyour work of faith,labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,

4 knowing, beloved brethren,your election by God.

5 Forour gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power,and in the Holy Spiritand in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.

6 Andyou became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction,with joy of the Holy Spirit,

7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.

8 For from you the word of the Lordhas sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but alsoin every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.

9 For they themselves declare concerning uswhat manner of entry we had to you,and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

10 andto wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead,evenJesus who delivers usfrom the wrath to come.

I Thessalonians 2

Paul’s Conduct

1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain.

2 But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated atPhilippi, as you know, we werebold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.

3 For our exhortationdidnotcomefrom error or uncleanness, norwasitin deceit.

4 But aswe have been approved by Godto be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak,not as pleasing men, but Godwho tests our hearts.

5 Forneither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—Godiswitness.

6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, whenwe might havemade demandsas apostles of Christ.

7 Butwe were gentle among you, just as a nursingmothercherishes her own children.

8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleasedto impart to you not only the gospel of God, but alsoour own lives, because you had become dear to us.

9 For you remember, brethren, ourlabor and toil; for laboring night and day,that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

10 Youarewitnesses, and Godalso,how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;

11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a fatherdoeshis own children,

12 that you would walk worthy of Godwho calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Their Conversion

13 For this reason we also thank Godwithout ceasing, because when youreceived the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomeditnotasthe word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectivelyworks in you who believe.

14 For you, brethren, became imitatorsof the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. Foryou also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as theydidfrom the Judeans,

15 who killed both the Lord Jesus andtheir own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please Godand are contrary to all men,

16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as alwaysto fill upthemeasureoftheir sins;but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.

Longing to See Them

17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short timein presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire.

18 Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—butSatan hindered us.

19 Forwhatisour hope, or joy, orcrown of rejoicing?Isitnot even you in thepresence of our Lord Jesus Christat His coming?

20 For you are our glory and joy.

I Thessalonians 3

Concern for Their Faith

1 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone,

2 and sentTimothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,

3 that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know thatwe are appointed to this.

4 For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.

5 For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith,lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, andour labor might be in vain.

Encouraged by Timothy

6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us,as we alsotoseeyou—

7 therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distresswe were comforted concerning you by your faith.

8 For now we live, if youstand fast in the Lord.

9 For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God,

10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your faceand perfect what is lacking in your faith?

Prayer for the Church

11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ,direct our way to you.

12 And may the Lord make you increase andabound in love to one another and to all, just as wedoto you,

13 so that He may establishyour hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

I Thessalonians 4

Plea for Purity

1 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesusthat you should abound more and more,just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;

2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

3 For this isthe will of God,your sanctification:that you should abstain from sexual immorality;

4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

5 not in passion of lust,like the Gentileswho do not know God;

6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lordisthe avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.

7 For God did not call us to uncleanness,but in holiness.

8 Therefore he who rejectsthisdoes not reject man, but God,who has also given us His Holy Spirit.

A Brotherly and Orderly Life

9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, foryou yourselves are taught by Godto love one another;

10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren,that you increase more and more;

11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life,to mind your own business, andto work with your own hands, as we commanded you,

12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, andthatyou may lack nothing.

The Comfort of Christ’s Coming

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrowas otherswho have no hope.

14 Forif we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Himthose who sleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to youby the word of the Lord, thatwe who are aliveandremain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

16 Forthe Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and withthe trumpet of God.And the dead in Christ will rise first.

17 Then we who are aliveandremain shall be caught up together with themin the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thuswe shall always be with the Lord.

18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

I Thessalonians 5

The Day of the Lord

1 But concerningthe times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.

2 For you yourselves know perfectly thatthe day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” thensudden destruction comes upon them,as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.

5 You are allsons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

6 Therefore let us not sleep, as othersdo,butlet us watch and be sober.

7 Forthose who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunkare drunk at night.

8 But let us who are of the day be sober,putting on the breastplate of faith and love, andasa helmet the hope of salvation.

9 ForGod did not appoint us to wrath,but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Various Exhortations

12 And we urge you, brethren,to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,

13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.Be at peace among yourselves.

14 Now we exhort you, brethren,warn those who are unruly,comfort the fainthearted,uphold the weak,be patient with all.

15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but alwayspursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

16 Rejoice always,

17 pray without ceasing,

18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

19 Do not quench the Spirit.

20 Do not despise prophecies.

21 Test all things;hold fast what is good.

22 Abstain from every form of evil.

Blessing and Admonition

23 Now maythe God of peace Himselfsanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and bodybe preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 He who calls youisfaithful, who also willdoit.

25 Brethren, pray for us.

26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.

27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christbewith you. Amen.

Colossians 1

Greeting

1 Paul,an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 To the saintsand faithful brethren in Christwhoarein Colosse:

# Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Their Faith in Christ

3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and ofyour love for all the saints;

5 because of the hopewhich is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,

6 which has come to you,asithasalso in all the world, andis bringing forth fruit, asitisalso among you since the day you heard and knewthe grace of God in truth;

7 as you also learned fromEpaphras, our dear fellow servant, who isa faithful minister of Christ on your behalf,

8 who also declared to us yourlove in the Spirit.

Preeminence of Christ

9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to askthat you may be filled withthe knowledge of His willin all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord,fully pleasingHim,being fruitful in every good work and increasing in theknowledge of God;

11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power,for all patience and longsufferingwith joy;

12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers ofthe inheritance of the saints in the light.

13 He has delivered us fromthe power of darknessand conveyedusinto the kingdom of the Son of His love,

14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

15 He isthe image of the invisible God,the firstborn over all creation.

16 Forby Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones ordominions or principalities or powers. All things were createdthrough Him and for Him.

17 And He is before all things, and in Himall things consist.

18 AndHe is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning,the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Reconciled in Christ

19 For it pleasedtheFatherthatin Him all the fullness should dwell,

20 andby Him to reconcileall things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven,having made peace through the blood of His cross.

21 And you,who once were alienated and enemies in your mindby wicked works, yet now He hasreconciled

22 in the body of His flesh through death,to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—

23 if indeed you continuein the faith, grounded and steadfast, and arenot moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard,which was preached to every creature under heaven,of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Sacrificial Service for Christ

24 I now rejoice in my sufferingsfor you, and fill up in my fleshwhat is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, forthe sake of His body, which is the church,

25 of which I became a minister according tothe stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,

26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations,but now has been revealed to His saints.

27 To them God willed to make known what arethe riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which isChrist in you,the hope of glory.

28 Him we preach,warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom,that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

29 To thisendI also labor, striving according to His working which works in memightily.