1 Thessalonians 2
1 For you yourselves know, brothers, our visit to you was not in vain,
For you yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain.
2 but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as you know, at Philipus, we grew bold in our God to tell you the Good News of God in much conflict.
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 exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception.
For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or with deceit,
4 But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak; not as pleasing people, but God, who tests 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 For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed (God is 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 seeking glory from people (neither from you nor from others), when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Meshikha.
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 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
Instead, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.
8 Even so, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you, not the Good News of God only, but also our own souls, because you had become very dear 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 For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail; for working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the Good News 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 with God, how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who believe.
You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously, and blamelessly we conducted ourselves among you who believe.
11 As you know, as a father with 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 we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you to lead a life 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 For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as a human word, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works 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 congregations of God which are in Yehuda in Meshikha Yeshua; for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they did from the Yehudeans;
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 Yeshua and the prophets, and drove us out, and did not please God, and are hostile to all people;
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 forbidding us to speak to those who are not Jewish that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always. But wrath has come on them to the uttermost.
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 But we, brothers, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence, not in heart, tried even harder to see your face with great desire,
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 because we wanted to come to you—indeed, I, Paul, once and again—but Satana hindered us.
Therefore we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, tried to do so again and again—but Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you, before our Lord Yeshua 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 For you are our glory and our joy.
Yes, you are our glory and joy!
