We know, mates, Skipper chose you. How can we be certain? ‘Cause when our gospel reached yer ears, it whar not the words of man but a powerful force, carried along by the Holy Spirit. Yer efforts be a testimony that faith produces hard work, me hearties.

Faith Produces Hard Work, Me Hearties

Faith produces hard work and with this promise of a fresh breeze in a full main, love prompts sound labor. Hope in Skip’s Son inspires endurance as we sail across treacherous seas. Here be the formula fer success.

Prayer leads ter faith. Faith, prompted by love, produces hard work. Hard work produces hope and hope produces endurance. 

You saw how we lived among you, all for yer sake. You took after us — in fact you took after the Son himself! In the face of harsh trials you welcomed our message. All the while ever’ crew member whar filled with joy given by the Holy Spirit. Here be instructions fer how ter recruit new crew.

The Good News of the Son arrives with the words of the Father and Son and the power of the Holy Spirit — the One who convicts us of sin and righteousness. If any lack these three — The Word, Holy Spirit, and power — let ’em pray fer insight, wisdom, knowledge, strength, and the abiding Spirit of the Son.

Be an example fer all believers. Toss over all idols and serve only Skipper. Become imitators of holy, righteous, blameless crew, fer they be the true buccaneers of the faith. Become imitators of Skip’s Son, the head of our crew. Welcome the message of the Holy Spirit. Make it yer task ter ring out the Lord’s message ter all. Tell others how the Lord turned you from idols and sin in order ter join his crew and serve aboard with the Son.

Skip’s Wind refreshes all who sail with Him, offering a cooling breath aboard ship.

With patient endurance, we wait fer the Son ter rescue us from the coming wrath Skipper ‘ill unleash on all who oppose him.

1 Thessalonians 1

Longing Ter See New Crew

You know, me hearties, that our visit ter yer port of call had its share of adventures and dangers. Our longing whar ter see new crew. We ‘ave faced the rough seas in the past, like in Philippi, where we whar treated worse than scallywags, but with the help of Skipper, we dared ter bring you the gospel, even in the face of a fierce gale.

Paul’s Pure Motives

We did not arrive with wicked motives or tried ter pull a fast one on you. Quite the opposite, we spake as those given the seal of approval by Skipper, entrusted with his gospel. Our aim whar not ter please fellers, but ter please Skipper fer he checks our hearts’ motives. Not once did we lather our words with honey.

We dared ter tell you the truth of Skipper’s Good News, fer his Good News contains some hard truths.

Even when we faced strong opposition, we kept to the Covenant Code and refused ter serve watered-down grog, but instead ter dole out the strong words of Skip’s Spirit. Our appeal did not spring from error or impure motives.

Though we be ambassadors of Christ and could’ve thrown our weight around, not a one of us sought praise from men.

We do not seek the praise of men, fer seeking the approval from fellers be a temptation that leads a mate into a snare. 

No, instead, we whar like young deckhands among you, working along side, pulling our weight, and acting in humility while we served you. This be the example of the Son we always seek ter present.

Look After the Needs of Others

Just as a mother bird tends ter her fledglings, we looked after you. We had such love in our hearts fer you that we were overjoyed not only ter share the gospel of Skipper with you but to share our lives as well. Me thinks you remember the hard work and long hours we put in, laboring day and night, so as not ter be a burden ter anyone while we preached Skipper’s gospel ter you.

You can bear witness ter how we lived among you, leadin’ lives that whar pure, righteous, and beyond reproach — especially fer those who trust in the Son. Just as a father guides his own children, we encouraged, consoled, and urged you ter live lives that honor Skipper.

And we be eternally grateful ter Skipper, fer when you accepted the word of Skipper, which you heard from us, you didn’t take it as the words of mere mortals.

You recognized the word of Skipper fer what it truly be:  life and death, salvation and condemnation. Life ter those who believe. Death ter those who reject Skipper’s word — who reject his Son who IS the Word made flesh.

You see, me hearties, you became imitators who now follow the ways of the Son. You suffered at the hands of yer own people, just as we suffer at the hands of the Jews who crucified the Son.

Such rabble be in rebellion against Skipper and hostile ter his word.  In thar rebellion, they be pilin’ up thar sins higher and higher, and Skipper’s wrath be brewin’, ready ter strike ’em down.

Now, me hearties, when we were temporarily separated from you (not in thought, but in person), we felt like orphaned sailors, adrift on the sea. Our yearning ter see you again whar strong, and we made every effort ter reach yer port. We longed ter be with you, but the devil himself blocked our way. Yes, some days Skipper allows the devil ter give us fits.

But no matter, fer you be our hope, our joy, and the crown of which we boast. When the Lord Jesus comes it ‘ill be our glory and our joy ter see you once more. Therefore, go forth in the knowledge that whether we live or die we ‘ill see you soon.

1 Thessalonians 2

When we could no longer restrain ourselves, our crew took a vote and decided it be wise ter set a course fer yer port of call. But in the midst of making preparations, the Son’s Spirit warned we ought ter hold steady a wee bit longer, that we be near sailing through troubled waters.

Sailing Through Troubled Waters

But in the midst of making preparations, the Son’s Spirit warned we ought ter hold steady a wee bit longer. Fer this reason we sent Two-Step Tim, our mate in dispensing the Son’s good news, ter lend you support and strengthen yer faith in our absence  — fer feared we did that the tempter might ‘ave his way with you and test you beyond yer strength. Should that come ter pass, thar be a chance our toil would be fer naught.

Before he cast off — and so that none among yer crew be shaken by the trials you face — I thought it best ter ship a letter yer way ter encourage and strengthen you.

Well you know, me hearties, that when I be with you, I warned yer crew that all who sail with the Son face tribulation. And such came ter pass just as I forewarned, fer on land and sea we ‘ill have storms and struggles. But praise be! The Son comforts us in all our trials.

Though we be concerned fer you, Two-Step Tim delivered ter us grand tidings of yer faith and goodwill, and how you hold fond memories of us: how you yearn greatly ter set eyes on us, just as we yearn ter set eyes on you.

Therefore, mates, you be a balm ter our souls in the midst of all our troubles and worries, fer it be yer faith that comforts us. And if you remain steadfast in the Lord, our spirits be alive and well, you may lay ter that.

Night and day, we be prayin’ with all our might ter see yer faces, and ter strengthen what be lackin’ in yer faith. Fer this reason we offer up this prayer:

May Skipper, our Father, and Captain, and his Son, our guide, plot a course fer us ter come back ter you. May the Son cause yer love fer one another ter increase all the more, jest as our love fer you increase by leagues.

May Skipper establish yer hearts so that each of yer crew be blameless and pure. May we be holy be fer Skipper so that none might be ashamed like the scallywags we once whar.

1 Thessalonians 3

Live ter please Skipper: “live to please the Lord!” By the authority of the Son, we urge you ter do this more and more.

Live To Please the Lord

It be Skipper’s will that you be set apart and made holy. Ter this purpose, we advise you ter avoid all forms of sexual immorality. Thar be no need ter list the many ways we violate our bodies in such wicked ways; you know the commands in Leviticus 18. Therefore, I implore you ter learn ter control yer own body. Live in a way that be holy and honorable ter the Son. Do not lust like the pagans, who do not know Skipper. They be slaves ter the desires of thar flesh and commit acts that be detestable ter Skipper. You, however, be slaves ter the Son and his righteousness.

With regard ter this instruction, no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother, sister, or neighbor. As we warned you before, the Son ‘ill punish all those who commit sexual sins, fer Skipper called us ter live a holy and pure life.

Any feller or lass who rejects this instruction rejects Skipper, fer he gives you his Holy Spirit and his Holy Spirit gives us his commands.

Love one another and make it yer ambition ter lead a quiet life: Mind yer own business and work with yer hands. In this way, you ‘ill have no need ter rely on anybody fer yer daily bread. Yer daily life ought ter win the respect of lubbers and others not in our crew, so work hard and help all who ask fer help.

Set Yer Sights on Pleasin’ Skipper

Set yer sights on pleasin’ the Skipper above all else. His will be clear as the North Star — he wants you ter be set apart and made holy. Take heed of this advice from the crew of the righteous ship. Steer well clear of all forms of sexual immorality, for it be as treacherous as the deadliest reef.

Be not like ’em pagan scallywags who know not the ways of Skipper. They be slaves ter thar own flesh and actin’ in wicked ways. But we, mates, be slaves ter the Son, and keep is Code out of love fer him.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

The Dead Will Rise At the Sound of the Trumpet

Brothers and sisters, I do not want you ter be confused ’bout those crew members who ‘ave gone ter Davy Jones. Do not grieve fer ’em like those without hope who grieve. We who be in the Son — we who ‘ave a hope beyond the grave believe that Son died and rose again and if the Son went down and rose again, he ‘ill come fer us, you may lay ter that. The dead will rise at the sound of the trumpet, then we ‘ill fall in behind.

According ter the Son’s own words, we know that those who still be alive — we who be left ’til the coming of the Son in his radiant glory — ‘ill certainly not go be fer ’em who ‘ave gone down ter a watery grave.

Feast of Trumpets and Jesus Return

Fer the Son himself ‘ill come down from heaven with a thunderous command. With the voice of the archangel, he ‘ill appear. With the trumpet call of God the Son ‘ill break forth from heaven.

Then the Lord will appear over them. His arrow will flash like lightning. The Sovereign Lord will sound the trumpet. He will march in the storms of the south. (Zechariah 9:14)

Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. All the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. He will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. (Matthew 24:30-31)

We will not all die: some will be alive when he comes. In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, we will all be changed at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable. Then we will be changed. (I Corinthians 15:51-52)

I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. (Revelation 8:2)

In the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets. (Revelation 10:7)

The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
“The kingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,
and he will reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15)

In that moment the dead in Christ our Lord ‘ill rise first. After that, we who be still alive and remain ‘ill be caught up together with ’em in the clouds ter meet the Lord in the air. And so we ‘ill be with the Son forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words and look with expectation fer the coming of our savior.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18