1 Thessalonians 2
1 For ye yourselves know, brethren, that our coming among you hath not been in vain;
For you yourselves know, brothers, that my visit to you did not fail of its purpose;
2 but after we had suffered before and had been shamefully treated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.
for you remember that although I had already borne ill-treatment and insult at Philippi, I took courage in my God to tell you the gospel of God, in the face of much opposition.
3 For our teaching is not from error, nor from impurity, nor in guile;
For my preaching was not grounded on a delusion, or on impure motives, on in deceit.
4 but as we have been regarded by God as worthy to be intrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who trieth our hearts.
But as my fitness to be entrusted with the gospel has been tested and approved by God, I so speak, not to please men, but to please God, who is testing my motives.
5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness, God is witness;
For as you well know, I never resorted to flattery, nor to any pretext for enriching myself. God is my witness!
6 nor from men sought we glory, either from you, or from others; though we might have used authority as apostles of Christ.
Now was I seeking glory from men, either yourselves or others, although I might have exercised authority as Christ’s apostle.
7 But we were gentle in the midst of you, even as a nurse cherisheth her own children;
On the contrary I showed myself among you as gentle as a mother, when she tenderly nurses her own children.
8 so having a strong affection for you, we were willing to impart to you, not only the gospel of God, but also our own souls, because ye became dear to us.
So in my fond affection it was my joy to give you, not only the gospel of God, but my very life also, because you had become dear to me.
9 For ye remember, brethren, our labor and toil, how laboring night and day, that we might not be burdensome to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.
You recall, brothers, my labor and toil; how, while working at my trade day and night, so as not to become a burden to any of you, I proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
10 Ye are witnesses, and so is God, how holily, and righteously, and unblamably we conducted ourselves toward you that believe;
You are witnesses - and so is God - how pure and just and blameless was my behavior among you believers.
11 as ye know how we exhorted, and encouraged, and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
You know how I was wont to treat each of you as a father treats his children,
12 that ye should walk in a manner worthy of God, who is calling you to his own kingdom and glory.
exhorting and imploring and adjuring each one among you to lead a life worthy of the God who called you into his own kingdom and glory.
13 And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received the word of God which ye heard from us, ye received it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also is powerfully working in you that believe.
For this reason also I am giving continual thanks to God, because when you heard from me the spoken word of God, you received it not as the word of men, but as the word of God (which in truth it is), who himself is effectually at work in you believe.
14 For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judaea in Christ Jesus; for ye also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, as they have from the Jews;
For you, brothers, began to follow the example of the churches of God in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus; and you in your turn suffered at the hands of your fellow citizens persecutions like to those which they endured from the Jews -
15 who both killed the Lord Jesus, and the prophets, and drove us out, and please not God, and set themselves against all men,
The men who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out - they are displeasing to God, and are the enemies of all mankind.
16 hindering us from speaking to the gentiles that they may be saved, —to fill up their sins always! But the wrath is come upon them to the end.
They forbid me to speak to the Gentiles with a view to their salvation. They continue always to fill up the measure of their sins; but the wrath of God is come upon them to the full!
17 But we, brethren, having been bereaved of you for a short time, separated in body, not in heart, used the greater endeavors with much earnestness to see your face.
But I, my brothers, although torn from you for a short season (in presence, not in heart), made eager efforts to behold you face to face with strong longing.
18 Wherefore we purposed to come to you, that is, I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
For that reason I would fain have visited you - I, Paul, again and again - but Satan hindered me.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Is it not even ye, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming?
For what is my hope, or joy? What is the victor’s wreath in which I exult? What but your own selves in the presence of our Lord Jesus, at his coming!
20 For ye are our glory and joy.
For you are my pride and my delight.
