Study Desk

Paul, Silas^[a](a) and Timothy,^(b) To the church of the Thessalonians^(c) in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.^(d)

We ought always to thank God for you,^(e) brothers and sisters,^[b] and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.^(f)

Therefore, among God's churches we boast^(g) about your perseverance and faith^(h) in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.⁽ⁱ⁾

All this is evidence^(j) that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy^(k) of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.

God is just:^(l) He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you^(m)

and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven⁽ⁿ⁾ in blazing fire^(o) with his powerful angels.^(p)

He will punish^(q) those who do not know God^(r) and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.^(s)

They will be punished with everlasting destruction^(t) and shut out from the presence of the Lord^(u) and from the glory of his might^(v)

on the day^(w) he comes to be glorified^(x) in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.^(y)

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you,^(z) that our God may make you worthy^(aa) of his calling,^(ab) and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness^(ac) and your every deed prompted by faith.^(ad)

We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,^(ae) and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.^[c]