Thessalonicenses I 4

1 De cetero ergo, fratres, rogamus vos et obsecramus in Domino Iesu, ut quemadmodum accepistis a nobis quomodo oporteat vos ambulare, et placere Deo, sic et ambuletis ut abundetis magis.

Further, friends, we beg and urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus to carry out more fully than ever – as indeed you are already doing – all that you have heard from us as to what your daily life must be, if it is to please God.

2 Scitis enim quæ præcepta dederim vobis per Dominum Iesum.

For you have not forgotten the directions that we gave you on the authority of our Lord Jesus.

3 Hæc est enim voluntas Dei, sanctificatio vestra: ut abstineatis vos a fornicatione,

For this is God’s purpose – that you should be pure; abstaining from all immorality;

4 ut sciat unusquisque vestrum vas suum possidere in sanctificatione, et honore:

each of you learning to gain control over your own body, in a way that is holy and honourable,

5 non in passione desiderii, sicut et Gentes, quæ ignorant Deum:

and not for the mere gratification of your passions, like the Gentiles who know nothing of God;

6 et nequis supergrediatur, neque circumveniat in negotio fratrem suum: quoniam vindex est Dominus de his omnibus, sicut prædiximus vobis, et testificati sumus.

none of you overreaching or taking advantage of their fellow follower of the Lord in such matters. The Lord takes vengeance on all who do such things, as we have already warned you and solemnly declared.

7 Non enim vocavit nos Deus in immunditiam, sed in sanctificationem.

For God does not call us to an impure life, but demands holiness.

8 Itaque qui hæc spernit, non hominem spernit, sed Deum: qui etiam dedit Spiritum suum Sanctum in nobis.

Therefore the person who disregards this warning disregards, not people, but God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

9 De charitate autem fraternitatis non necesse habemus scribere vobis: ipsi enim vos a Deo didicistis ut diligatis invicem.

As to love for each other there is no need to write to you; for you have yourselves been taught by God to love one another;

10 Etenim illud facitis in omnes fratres in universa Macedonia. Rogamus autem vos fratres ut abundetis magis,

and indeed you do act in this spirit towards all his people throughout Macedonia. Yet, friends, we beg you to do even more.

11 et opera detis ut quieti sitis, et ut vestrum negotium agatis, et operemini manibus vestris, sicut præcepimus vobis:

Make it your ambition to live quietly, and to attend to your own business, and to work with your hands, as we directed you;

12 et ut honeste ambuletis ad eos, qui foris sunt: et nullius aliquid desideretis.

so that your conduct may win respect from those outside the church, and that you may not want for anything.

13 Nolumus autem vos ignorare fratres de dormientibus, ut non contristemini sicut et ceteri, qui spem non habent.

We don’t want you to be ignorant, friends, about those who have passed to their rest. We don’t want you to grieve like other people who have no hope.

14 Si enim credimus quod Iesus mortuus est, et resurrexit: ita et Deus eos, qui dormierunt per Iesum, adducet cum eo.

For, as we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring, with Jesus, those who through him have passed to their rest.

15 Hoc enim vobis dicimus in Verbo Domini, quia nos, qui vivimus, qui residui sumus in adventum Domini, non præveniemus eos, qui dormierunt.

This we tell you on the authority of the Lord – that those of us who are still living at the coming of the Lord will not anticipate those who have passed to their rest.

16 Quoniam ipse Dominus in iussu, et in voce Archangeli, et in tuba Dei descendet de cælo: et mortui, qui in Christo sunt, resurgent primi.

For, with a loud summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the trumpet-call of God, the Lord himself will come down from heaven.

17 Deinde nos, qui vivimus, qui relinquimur, simul rapiemur cum illis in nubibus obviam Christo in aera, et sic semper cum Domino erimus.

Then those who died in union with Christ will rise first; and afterwards we who are still living will be caught up in the clouds, with them, to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be for ever with the Lord.

18 Itaque consolamini invicem in verbis istis.

Therefore, comfort one another with what I have told you.