1 Thessalonians 2
1 You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain.
For you yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain.
2 As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God.
On the contrary, even though we had previously suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the face of strong opposition.
3 For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.
For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or with deceit,
4 Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.
but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who examines our hearts.
5 As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!
God is our witness that we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed, as you well know.
6 Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.
Nor did we seek glory from men (neither from you nor from others), though as Christ's apostles we could have asserted our authority.
7 On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.
Instead, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.
8 We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.
We had such strong affection for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become dear to us.
9 Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
For you remember, brothers, our labor and hardship. Working night and day so as not to be a burden on any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.
10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.
You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously, and blamelessly we conducted ourselves among you who believe.
11 For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children—
As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father deals with his own children, exhorting you, encouraging you,
12 encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
and testifying that you should walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
13 And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as the true word of God—the word which is now at work in you who believe.
We also give thanks to God without ceasing because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.
14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus. You suffered from your own countrymen the very things they suffered from the Jews,
For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you suffered the same things from your own countrymen that they did from the Jews,
15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men,
who killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and who also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men
16 hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they may be saved. As a result, they continue to heap up their sins to full capacity; the utmost wrath has come upon them.
by hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they can be saved. In this way they are always filling up the measure of their sins, but wrath has come upon them at last.
17 Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense.
As for us, brothers, when we were bereaved of you for a brief hour (being physically absent, but with you in our hearts), we longed with great eagerness to see you face to face.
18 For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us.
Therefore we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, tried to do so again and again—but Satan hindered us.
19 After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?
For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?
20 You are indeed our glory and our joy.
Yes, you are our glory and joy!
