1But as to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3When people say, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as travail comes upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape. 4But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. 6So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7For those who sleep sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 [ Is.59.17, Wis.5.18. ] But, since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we might live with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
12But we beseech you, brethren, to respect those who labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. 16Rejoice always, 17pray constantly, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19Do not quench the Spirit, 20do not despise prophesying, 21but test everything; hold fast what is good, 22abstain from every form of evil.
23May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24He who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
25Brethren, pray for us.
26Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
27I adjure you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brethren.
28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
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