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Childrens Book of 1 Thessalonians
Chapters 1 - 2

I have written this for children, based solely on the Word of God, but condensed for them... and used Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary for clarification of some words. My added comments are in italics, and there is usually a memory verse at the end..

Chapter 1

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians (those who lived in Thessalonica), which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We always give thanks to God for all of you, and mention you in our prayers, always remembering your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope (the blessed hope, looking forward to the day of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ) in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God our Father, knowing, beloved brothers, your election of God. (election teaches that God chose certain people to be in Christ before the world was formed).

Our gospel (the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ) did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and with much assurance (they had faith that the gospel was the truth from God).

You became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received with joy of the Holy Ghost, (the truth of) the word (the gospel) when you were going through troubles.  So you were an example to all those who believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

Your faith towards God is spread to every place, so that I (Paul) don't have to tell everyone because they have already heard of your faith.

They know how you turned from idols to serve the living and true God.  And to wait for his Son from heaven, who God raised from the dead, even Jesus which delivered us (by his dying for our sins, and his resurrection from the dead) from the wrath to come. (when God will bring forth his wrath on the world that has rejected him).

no memory verse for this chapter.

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Chapter 2

Brothers, you know that our coming to you was not in vain.  You know that we were badly treated at Philippi, but we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God even though there were many conflicts.

Our preaching was not deceptive, or unclean, or for any reason that was not of God. But as we were allowed by God to preach the gospel, we speak, not to please men, but God, who tries our hearts.

We never used words of flattery, or for any selfish desire.  God is witness.  We did not desire glory (financial support) from men, or from you, or any others, because as the apostles of Christ, we did not want to be a burden.  We were gentle among you, even as a nurse loves and cares for her children.

We cared for you so much that we were willing to give not only the gospel, but our own souls.

Brothers, you remember how we worked night and day so that you would not be responsible for our living (expenses), we preached to you the gospel of God.  You are witnesses, and God is also, how we behaved towards you that believe in a holy, just and blameless manner.  You know how we encouraged, and comforted, and commanded every one of you, as a father does his children, that you would walk worthy of God, who has called you to his kingdom and glory.

We thank God, because, when you received the word of God that we preached to you, you believed that it was not the word of men, but that it is the truth, the word of God, which works in you that believe (the word of God is our truth, our guide, our way to live our lives until the day we are with Jesus).

Brothers, you have also suffered the same things as others have by the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us, and they do not please God.

They forbid us to speak to the Gentiles so that they might be saved.

Brothers, even though we have been taken from you for a short time, we are with you in our hearts, and greatly desire to see you face to face.  I (Paul) would have come to you, but Satan interfered with us.

What is our hope, or our joy?  It is that you will be in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming.  For you are our glory and joy.

Memory Verse: 1 Thessalonians 2:12 "that you would walk worthy of God, who has called you to his kingdom and glory."

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V. Gross/Jan'07