< 1 Thessalonians 2 >
1 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not useless.
For you yourselves know, brethren, our entrance among you, that it was not in vain.
2 You know that we previously suffered and were shamefully treated at Philippi. We were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much struggling.
But having suffered before, and having been outraged, as you know, in Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in the midst of great peril.
3 For our exhortation was not from error, nor from impurity, nor from deceit.
For our exhortation arose not from deception, nor from uncleanness, nor was it with guile;
4 Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be trusted with the gospel, so we speak. We speak, not to please men, but to please God. He is the one who examines our hearts.
but as God had judged us worthy to be intrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who tries our hearts.
5 For we never used words of flattery, as you know, nor as an excuse to cover up greed— God is our witness.
For neither nattering words did we at any time use, as you know, nor a pretext for covetousness; God is witness:
6 Nor did we seek glory from people, either from you or from others. We could have claimed privileges as apostles of Christ.
nor did we seek glory from men, neither from you nor from others; though we could have been burdensome as the apostles of Christ.
7 Instead, we were as gentle among you as a mother comforting her own children.
But we were gentle among you. As a nurse nourishes her children,
8 In this way we had affection for you. We were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives. For you had become very dear to us.
so, having a strong affection for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives also, because you had become dear to us.
9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil. Night and day we were working so that we might not weigh down any of you. During that time, we preached to you the gospel of God.
For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for, laboring night and day, that we might not be burdensome to any one of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.
10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy, righteous, and blameless was our behavior toward you who believe.
You are witnesses, and God also, in how holy and just and blameless a manner we conducted ourselves among you that believe,
11 In the same way you know how we dealt with each one of you as a father deals with his own children.
as indeed you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father his children,
12 We were begging you and encouraging and urging you to walk in a manner that is worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
that you should walk in a manner worthy of God, who has called you to his own kingdom and glory.
13 For this reason we also thank God constantly. For when you received from us God's message that you heard, you accepted it not as the word of man. Instead, you received it as it truly is, the word of God. It is this word that is also at work among you who believe.
For this reason, also, we thank God without ceasing; because, when you received the word of God, as preached by us, you embraced it, not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually works in you that believe.
14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, as they did from the Jews.
For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea which are in Christ Jesus; for you, also, have suffered the same things from your own countrymen, that they have suffered from the Jews,
15 It was the Jews who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets. It was the Jews who drove us out. They do not please God. Instead, they are hostile to all people.
who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and have persecuted us, and do not please God, and are opposed to all men,
16 They forbid us to speak to the Gentiles for them to be saved. The result is that they always fill up their own sins. Wrath must come on them in the end.
forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, in order that they may fill up their sins at all times: but the wrath is coming upon them to the full.
17 We were separated from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart. We were especially eager, with great desire, to see your face.
But we, brethren, having been taken from you for a short time, in person, not in heart, did, with great desire, endeavor the more earnestly to see your face.
18 For we wished to come to you—I, Paul, wished to come to you once and again—but Satan stopped us.
For this reason, we intended to go to you, (I Paul) both once and again, but Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of pride in front of our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you just as much as others?
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
20 For you are our glory and our joy.
You indeed are our glory and joy.