Thessalonicenses I 2
1 Nam ipsi scitis, fratres, introitum nostrum ad vos, quia non inanis fuit:
Brothers and sisters, you yourselves know what our visit meant to you, and that it wasn't wasted!
2 sed ante passi, et contumeliis affecti (sicut scitis) in Philippis, fiduciam habuimus in Deo nostro loqui ad vos Evangelium Dei in multa solicitudine.
You'll recall that after having had much trouble and bad treatment at Philippi, with the help of God we still dared to share God's good news with you, despite the opposition we faced.
3 Exhortatio enim nostra non de errore, neque de immunditia, neque in dolo,
For what we speak about isn't deceptive, or worthless, or fraudulent.
4 sed sicut probati sumus a Deo ut crederetur nobis Evangelium: ita loquimur non quasi hominibus placentes, sed Deo, qui probat corda nostra.
On the contrary, we have God's approval for what we say—he's entrusted us with sharing the good news. We don't set out to please people, but God. He's the one who judges our motives.
5 Neque enim aliquando fuimus in sermone adulationis, sicut scitis: neque in occasione avaritiæ: Deus testis est:
As you know, we've never used flattering words. Nor were we covering up some greedy, selfish attitude—as God is our witness!
6 nec quærentes ab hominibus gloriam, neque a vobis, neque ab aliis.
We weren't trying to win anybody's praise—not from you, nor anyone else. We could have become a “burden” to you as messengers of Christ,
7 Cum possemus vobis oneri esse ut Christi Apostoli: sed facti sumus parvuli in medio vestrum, tamquam si nutrix foveat filios suos.
but instead we acted kindly among you, like a mother caring for her own children.
8 Ita desiderantes vos, cupide volebamus tradere vobis non solum Evangelium Dei, sed etiam animas nostras: quoniam charissimi nobis facti estis.
We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not just God's good news, but also our very own selves, because you had become so dear to us.
9 Memores enim estis fratres laboris nostri, et fatigationis: nocte ac die operantes, ne quem vestrum gravaremus, prædicavimus in vobis Evangelium Dei.
Don't you remember, brothers and sisters, all our hard work— working day and night so we wouldn't be a burden to any of you as we shared God's good news with you?
10 Vos testes estis, et Deus, quam sancte, et iuste, et sine querela, vobis, qui credidistis, fuimus:
You yourselves can testify as to how we acted, and God can too—how we treated you believers with a holy attitude, fairly and blamelessly.
11 sicut scitis, qualiter unumquemque vestrum (sicut pater filios suos)
You know how we cared for every one of you like a father caring for his own children. We encouraged you, comforted you, and shared with you our experience
12 deprecantes vos, et consolantes, testificati sumus, ut ambularetis digne Deo, qui vocavit vos in suum regnum, et gloriam.
so that you could live as God would want you to live—the God who calls you to his own kingdom and glory.
13 Ideo et nos gratias agimus Deo sine intermissione: quoniam cum accepissetis a nobis Verbum auditus Dei, accepistis illud, non ut verbum hominum, sed (sicut est vere) Verbum Dei, qui operatur in vobis, qui credidistis.
Another thing: we're always thanking God that when you heard and accepted the word of God, you didn't treat it as some human words, but what it truly is, the word of God. This is what is at work in those of you who trust in him.
14 Vos enim imitatores facti estis fratres Ecclesiarum Dei, quæ sunt in Iudæa in Christo Iesu: quia eadem passi estis et vos a contribulibus vestris, sicut et ipsi a Iudæis:
The experience you brothers and sisters have had imitates that of God's churches that belong to Christ Jesus in Judaea. Just like your fellow Jewish Christians you suffered as they did at the hands of the Jewish leaders
15 qui et Dominum occiderunt Iesum, et Prophetas, et nos persecuti sunt, et Deo non placent, et omnibus hominibus adversantur,
who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and chased us out. They don't please God and they are hostile to everyone,
16 prohibentes nos Gentibus loqui ut salvæ fiant, ut impleant peccata sua semper: pervenit enim ira Dei super illos usque in finem.
trying to prevent us from speaking to the other nations to prevent them from being saved. They're always sinning to the maximum extent, but for them full judgment has arrived!
17 Nos autem fratres desolati a vobis ad tempus horæ, aspectu, non corde, abundantius festinavimus faciem vestram videre cum multo desiderio:
Brothers and sisters, since we felt as if we'd experienced a family separation because we hadn't seen you for a while (separated physically though not in spirit), we tried even harder to come and see you again face to face because that's what we wanted to do.
18 quoniam voluimus venire ad vos: ego quidem Paulus, et semel, et iterum, sed impedivit nos Satanas.
We really wanted to come and visit you, and I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan stopped us.
19 Quæ est enim nostra spes, aut gaudium, aut corona gloriæ? Nonne vos ante Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum estis in adventu eius?
For what gives us hope, what makes us happy, what we are really proud of as we stand before our Lord Jesus Christ when he comes back—is having you there too!
20 Vos enim estis gloria nostra et gaudium.
You are our pride and joy!
