From a letter written by the apostle Paul
with Silvanus (Silas) and Timotheus (Timothy),
to believers in Thessalonica:
to believers in Thessalonica:
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.-2 Thessalonians 2:13-17***The apostle Paul (Saul) journeyed and wrote divinely inspired letters, teaching the good news of Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, to Israelites and Gentiles, people not born into the Israelite tribes. Over 1,900 years before Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary, a virgin, and born into the tribe of Judah to Mary and her husband Joseph when Mary was a virgin, and Paul was born into the tribe of Benjamin, Judah was born to Jacob (Israel) and Leah, and Benjamin was born to Jacob and Rachel. Approximately 30 years after Jesus was born to Joseph and Mary, Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by Mary's relative John the Baptist. Jesus having prayed, the heavens tearing open, the Holy Spirit descended as a dove and lit upon Jesus. The Lord God in heaven audibly acknowledged his Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert wilderness. Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights and was tempted. Afterwards, Jesus was tended to by angels, and Jesus went to the area near John the Baptist, and John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus to be the Lamb of God taking away the sin of the world. In Galilee, Jesus told specific Israelite men to follow him, and Jesus began to preach, teach and perform miracles among the Israelites, the treasured and chosen people of the Lord God. Less than 3 1/2 years after Jesus was baptized, Jesus was betrayed, arrested, crucified, buried in a tomb, resurrected, and returned to heaven. Initially, Paul did not believe Jesus to be the Christ. Throughout Jerusalem, Paul persecuted and imprisoned any Israelite who believed Jesus to be the Christ of God. When Paul was journeying to the synagogues in Damascus, Syria, to find, bind and take to Jerusalem any Israelite believers he found, Paul and those with him saw a light from heaven flash around them. Paul heard the voice of Jesus speaking to him, and Paul spoke to Jesus and obeyed Jesus. In Damascus Paul was baptized. Paul began journeying with Silas, who was later beaten and imprisoned with Paul, when they were both in Jerusalem. Paul began traveling with Timothy (Timotheus), after Paul met and circumcised Timothy in Lystra. Some of the people Paul journeyed with, or who helped Paul throughout his journeys, were mentioned by Paul in his letters or in his prayers. All of the people affectionately mentioned by Paul believed Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of the living God. In a letter to believers in Ephesus, and in a letter to believers in Thessalonica, Paul revealed that everyone who believes the truth of Christ Jesus was chosen by the Lord God from the beginning.-Genesis 1:1-35:29, 1 Chronicles 1:1-34, 2:1-17, 3:1-24, 8:1-40, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts 1:1-26, 6:1-8:4, 9:1-31, 11:19-28:31, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon
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