1 Thessalonians 2
1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance to you, that it was not in vain:
Now you yourselves know, brothers, that our entrance to you did not happen without purpose.
2 But even after we had suffered before, and were shamefully treated, as ye know, at Phillippi, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God with much contention.
Rather, in spite of having already suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, we made bold in our God to speak to you the Gospel of God, in the face of strong opposition.
3 For our exhortation [was] not from deceit, nor from impurity, nor in guile;
Further, our exhortation does not spring from delusion or impurity, nor is it in deception,
4 But as we were allowed by God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who trieth our hearts.
but we speak precisely as those who have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel, not so as to please men, but to please the God who evaluates our hearts.
5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God [is] witness:
Further, you well know that we never used words to flatter, or to disguise greed (God is witness),
6 Nor from men sought we glory, neither from you, nor [yet] from others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
or to seek glory from men (whether from you or from others)—as apostles of Christ we could have been ‘heavy’,
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
but we were gentle among you, like a nurse cherishing her own children.
8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted to you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear to us.
Yearning over you in this way, we were well 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 ye remember, brethren, our labor and toil: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.
Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and exertion, because working night and day, so as not to burden any of you, we proclaimed the Gospel of God to you.
10 Ye [are] witnesses, and God [also], how holily, and justly, and unblamably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;
11 As ye know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father [doth] his children,
indeed, you know how we treated each one of you as a father does his own children, exhorting and comforting you,
12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you into his kingdom and glory.
insisting that you conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
13 For this cause also we thank God without ceasing, because, 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 effectually worketh also in you that believe.
Another reason we give thanks to God continually is that when you received from us the spoken Word of God, you welcomed it not as the word of men but, as it actually is, the Word of God, which is indeed operative in you who believe.
14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things from your own countrymen, even as they [have] from the Jews:
For you, brothers, became imitators of God's congregations in Christ Jesus, the ones in Judea, in that you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen that they did from the Jews
15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
(the ones who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, who have persecuted us, who do not please God and are hostile to everybody,
16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, to fill up their sins always: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
trying to prevent us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved—so as to fill up the measure of their sins. They have received the full impact of the Wrath).
17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
Now we, brothers, having been bereaved of you for a short season (in presence, not in heart), made every effort to see your face, from intense longing.
18 Wherefore we would have come to you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
(We actually tried to come to you—I, Paul, time and again—but Satan thwarted us.)
19 For what [is] our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? [Are] not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Is it not precisely you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?
20 For ye are our glory and joy.
Indeed, you are our glory and our joy.
