1 Thessalonians 2
1 For yourselves have known, brethren, our entrance in unto you, that it did not become vain,
Now you yourselves know, brothers, that our entrance to you did not happen without purpose.
2 but having both suffered before, and having been injuriously treated (as ye have known) in Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto 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 out of deceit, nor out of uncleanness, nor in guile,
Further, our exhortation does not spring from delusion or impurity, nor is it in deception,
4 but as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the good news, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who is proving 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 at no time did we come with speech of flattery, (as ye have known, ) nor in a pretext for 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 of men glory, neither from you nor from others, being able to be burdensome, as Christ's apostles.
or to seek glory from men (whether from you or from others)—as apostles of Christ we could have been ‘heavy’,
7 But we became gentle in your midst, as a nurse may cherish her own children,
but we were gentle among you, like a nurse cherishing her own children.
8 so being desirous of you, we are well-pleased to impart to you not only the good news of God, but also our own souls, because beloved ye have become 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 labour and travail, for, night and day working not to be a burden upon any of you, we did preach 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 ye [are] witnesses — God also — how kindly and righteously, and blamelessly to you who believe we became,
You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;
11 even as ye have known, how each one of you, as a father his own children, we are exhorting you, and comforting, and testifying,
indeed, you know how we treated each one of you as a father does his own children, exhorting and comforting you,
12 for your walking worthily of God, who is calling you to His own reign and glory.
insisting that you conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
13 Because of this also, we — we do give thanks to God continually, that, having received the word of hearing from us of God, ye accepted, not the word of man, but as it is truly, the word of God, who also doth work 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 ye became imitators, brethren, of the assemblies of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus, because such things ye suffered, even ye, from your own countrymen, as also they 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 did both put to death the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and did persecute us, and God they are not pleasing, and to all men [are] contrary,
(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 nations that they might be saved, to fill up their sins always, but the anger did come upon them — to the end!
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 And we, brethren, having been taken from you for the space of an hour — in presence, not in heart — did hasten the more abundantly to see your face in much 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 wished to come unto you, (I indeed Paul, ) both once and again, and the Adversary did hinder 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 before our Lord Jesus Christ in his presence?
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.
