51 Now as to the times and the epochs , brethren , you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night . 3 While they are saying , " Peace and safety !" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child e , and they will not escape . 4 But you, brethren , are not in darkness , that the day would overtake you like a thief ; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day . We are not of night nor of darkness ;
6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober . 7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night , and those who get drunk get drunk at night . 8 But since we are of the day , let us be sober , having put on the breastplate of faith and love , and as a helmet , the hope of salvation . 9 For God has not destined us for wrath , but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ , 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep , we will live together with Him.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another , just as you also are doing .
12 But we request of you, brethren , that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction , 13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work . Live in peace with one another . 14 We urge you, brethren , admonish the unruly , encourage the fainthearted , help the weak , be patient with everyone . 15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil , but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people .
16 Rejoice always ; 17 pray without ceasing ; 18 in everything give thanks ; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus . 19 Do not quench the Spirit ; 20 do not despise prophetic utterances . 21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good ; 22 abstain from every form of evil .
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely ; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete , without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ . 24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass .
25 Brethren , pray for us. 26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss . 27 I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren . 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
31 Therefore when we could endure it no longer , we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone , 2 and we sent Timothy , our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ , to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith , 3 so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions ; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this . 4 For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction ; and so it came to pass , as you know . 5 For this reason , when I could endure it no longer , I also sent to find out about your faith , for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain .
6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love , and that you always think e kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, 7 for this reason , brethren , in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith ; 8 for now we really live , if you stand firm in the Lord . 9 For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account , 10 as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face , and may complete what is lacking in your faith ?
11 Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; 12 and may the Lord cause e you to increase and abound in love for one another , and for all people , just as we also do for you; 13 so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints .
