Thessalonicenses I 2
1 nam ipsi scitis fratres introitum nostrum ad vos quia non inanis fuit
Yes, friends, you yourselves know that your reception of us was not without result.
2 sed ante passi et contumeliis affecti sicut scitis in Philippis fiduciam habuimus in Deo nostro loqui ad vos evangelium Dei in multa sollicitudine
For, although we had experienced suffering and ill treatment, as you know, at Philippi, we had the courage, by the help of our God, to tell you God’s good news in spite of great opposition.
3 exhortatio enim nostra non de errore neque de inmunditia neque in dolo
Our appeal to you was not based on a delusion, nor was it made from unworthy motives, or with any intention of misleading you.
4 sed sicut probati sumus a Deo ut crederetur nobis evangelium ita loquimur non quasi hominibus placentes sed Deo qui probat corda nostra
But, having been found worthy by God to be entrusted with the good news, therefore we tell it; with a view to please, not people, but God who proves our hearts.
5 neque enim aliquando fuimus in sermone adulationis sicut scitis neque in occasione avaritiae Deus testis est
Never at any time, as you know, did we use the language of flattery, or make false professions in order to hide selfish aims. God will bear witness to that.
6 nec quaerentes ab hominibus gloriam neque a vobis neque ab aliis
Nor did we seek to win honour from people, whether from you or from others, although, as apostles of Christ, we might have burdened you with our support.
7 cum possimus oneri esse ut Christi apostoli sed facti sumus lenes in medio vestrum tamquam si nutrix foveat filios suos
But we lived among you with the simplicity of a child; we were like a woman nursing her own children.
8 ita desiderantes vos cupide volebamus tradere vobis non solum evangelium Dei sed etiam animas nostras quoniam carissimi nobis facti estis
In our strong affection for you, that seemed to us the best way of sharing with you, not only God’s good news, but our lives as well – so dear had you become to us.
9 memores enim estis fratres laborem nostrum et fatigationem nocte et die operantes ne quem vestrum gravaremus praedicavimus in vobis evangelium Dei
You will not have forgotten, friends, our labour and toil. Night and day we used to work at our trades, so as not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you God’s good news.
10 vos testes estis et Deus quam sancte et iuste et sine querella vobis qui credidistis fuimus
You will bear witness, and God also, that our relations with you who believed in Christ were pure, and upright, and beyond reproach.
11 sicut scitis qualiter unumquemque vestrum tamquam pater filios suos
Indeed, you know that, like a father with his own children, we used to encourage and comfort every one of you, and solemnly plead with you;
12 deprecantes vos et consolantes testificati sumus ut ambularetis digne Deo qui vocavit vos in suum regnum et gloriam
so that you should make your daily lives worthy of God who is calling you into the glory of his kingdom.
13 ideo et nos gratias agimus Deo sine intermissione quoniam cum accepissetis a nobis verbum auditus Dei accepistis non ut verbum hominum sed sicut est vere verbum Dei qui operatur in vobis qui credidistis
This, too, is a reason why we, on our part, are continually thanking God – because, in receiving the teaching that you had from us, you accepted it, not as the teaching of humans, but as what it really is – the teaching of God, which is even now doing its work within you who believe in Christ.
14 vos enim imitatores facti estis fratres ecclesiarum Dei quae sunt in Iudaea in Christo Iesu quia eadem passi estis et vos a contribulibus vestris sicut et ipsi a Iudaeis
For you, friends, began to follow the example of the churches of God in Judea which are in union with Jesus Christ; you, in your turn, suffering at the hands of your fellow citizens, in the same way as those churches did at the hands of their people –
15 qui et Dominum occiderunt Iesum et prophetas et nos persecuti sunt et Deo non placent et omnibus hominibus adversantur
who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and persecuted us also. They do not try to please God, and they are enemies to all humanity,
16 prohibentes nos gentibus loqui ut salvae fiant ut impleant peccata sua semper praevenit autem ira Dei super illos usque in finem
for they try to prevent us from speaking to the Gentiles with a view to their salvation, and so are always filling up the measure of their iniquity. But the wrath of God has come upon them to the full!
17 nos autem fratres desolati a vobis ad tempus horae aspectu non corde abundantius festinavimus faciem vestram videre cum multo desiderio
As for ourselves, friends, our having been bereaved of you even for a short time – though in body only, and not in spirit – made us all the more eager to see your faces again; and the longing to do so was strong on us.
18 quoniam voluimus venire ad vos ego quidem Paulus et semel et iterum et inpedivit nos Satanas
That was why we made up our minds to go and see you – at least I, Paul, did, more than once – but Satan put difficulties in our way.
19 quae est enim nostra spes aut gaudium aut corona gloriae nonne vos ante Dominum nostrum Iesum estis in adventu eius
For what hope or joy will be ours, or what crown will we have to boast of, in the presence of our Lord Jesus, at his coming, if it isn’t you?
20 vos enim estis gloria nostra et gaudium
You are our pride and our delight!
