New Testament Lesson

2 Thess. 1:1-12 (NRSV)

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ: 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3We must always give
thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the
love of everyone of you for one another is increasing. 4Therefore we ourselves boast of you among the
churches of God for your steadfastness and faith during all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are
enduring.

5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, and is intended to make you worthy of the kingdom of
God, for which you are also suffering. 6For it is indeed just of God to repay with affliction those who afflict
you, 7and to give relief to the afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his
mighty angels 8in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not
obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9These will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, separated from
the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10when he comes to be glorified by his saints and to
be marveled at on that day among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

11 To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfill by
his power every good resolve and work of faith, 12so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in
you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.