1 Thessalonians 5
The day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, bringing destruction to those who are unprepared, but believers are not in darkness and should be vigilant and sober, clothed with faith, charity, and the hope of salvation. Believers should live in union with Christ, console and build each other up, and recognize those who labor among them. They should correct the disruptive, console the weak-minded, and pursue what is good, rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks always. Believers should test all things, hold on to what is good, and abstain from evil, trusting that God will sanctify them and preserve them until the return of Christ.
1But concerning dates and times, brothers, you do not need us to write to you2For you yourselves thoroughly understand that the day of the Lord shall arrive much like a thief in the night3For when they will say, "Peace and security!" then destruction will suddenly overwhelm them, like the labor pains of a woman with child, and they will not escape4But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that you would be overtaken by that day as by a thief5For all of you are sons of light and sons of daytime; we are not of nighttime, nor of darkness6Therefore, let us not sleep, as the rest do. Instead, we should be vigilant and sober7For those who sleep, sleep in the night; and those who are inebriated, are inebriated in the night8But we, who are of the daylight, should be sober, being clothed with the breastplate of faith and of charity and having, as a helmet, the hope of salvation9For God has not appointed us for wrath, but for the acquisition of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ10who died for us, so that, whether we watch, or whether we sleep, we may live in union with him11Because of this, console one another and build up one another, just as you are doing12And we ask you, brothers, to recognize those who labor among you, and who preside over you in the Lord, and who admonish you13so that you may consider them with an abundance of charity, for the sake of their work. Be at peace with them14And we ask you, brothers: correct the disruptive, console the weak-minded, support the sick, be patient with everyone15See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone. Instead, always pursue whatever is good, with one another and with all16Rejoice always17Pray without ceasing18Give thanks in everything. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for all of you19Do not choose to extinguish the Spirit20Do not spurn prophecies21But test all things. Hold on to whatever is good22Abstain from every kind of evil23And may the God of peace himself sanctify you through all things, so that your whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved without blame unto the return of our Lord Jesus Christ24He who has called you is faithful. He shall act even now25Brothers, pray for us26Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss27I bind you, through the Lord, that this epistle is to be read to all the holy brothers28May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen
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