1 Thessalonians 2
1 For you yourselves know, brothers, our visit to you wasn’t in vain,
Now you yourselves know, brothers, that our entrance to you did not happen without purpose.
2 but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we grew bold in our God to tell you the Good News of God in much conflict.
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 is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception.
Further, our exhortation does not spring from delusion or impurity, nor is it in deception,
4 But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak—not as pleasing men, but God, who tests 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 were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak 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 seeking glory from men (neither from you nor from others), when we might have claimed authority as 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 amongst you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
but we were gentle among you, like a nurse cherishing her own 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.
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 you remember, brothers, our labour and travail; for working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the Good News 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 You are witnesses with God how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves towards you who believe.
You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;
11 As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a father does his own children,
indeed, you know how we treated each one of you as a father does his own children, exhorting and comforting you,
12 to the end that you should walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own 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 we also thank God without ceasing that when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, God’s word, which also works in you who 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 you, brothers, became imitators of the assemblies of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus; for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they did 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 killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out, and don’t please 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. But wrath has come on 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, brothers, being bereaved of you for a short season in presence, not in heart, tried even harder 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 because we wanted to come to you—indeed, 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? Isn’t it even you, before our Lord Jesus 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 you are our glory and our joy.
Indeed, you are our glory and our joy.
