1 Thessalonians 2

Paul's Ministry to the Thessalonians

1 For you yourselves know, brothers,t that our coming to you was not in vain.2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive,4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.5 For we never came with words of flattery,t as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness.6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.7 But we were gentlet among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.11 For you know how, like a father with his children,12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

13 And we also thank God constantlyt for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But God's wrath has come upon them at last!t

Paul's Longing to See Them Again

17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face,18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?20 For you are our glory and joy.

1 Thessalonians 2

1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entering in unto you, that it hath not been found vain:2 but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as ye know, at Philippi, we waxed bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God in much conflict.3 For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:4 but even as we have been approved of God to be intrusted with the gospel, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God who proveth our hearts.5 For neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness, God is witness;6 nor seeking glory of men, neither from you nor from others, when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ.7 But we were gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherisheth her own children:8 even so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were well pleased to impart unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were become very dear to us.9 For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and righteously and unblameably we behaved ourselves toward you that believe:11 as ye know how we dealt with each one of you, as a father with his own children, exhorting you, and encouraging you, and testifying,12 to the end that ye should walk worthily of God, who calleth you into his own kingdom and glory.13 And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, even the word of God, ye accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe.14 For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judaea in Christ Jesus: for ye also suffered the same things of your own countrymen, even as they did of the Jews;15 who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove out us, and pleased not God, and are contrary to all men;16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always: but the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.17 But we, brethren, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence not in heart, endeavored the more exceedingly to see your face with great desire:18 because we would fain have come unto you, I Paul once and again; and Satan hindered us.19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even ye, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?20 For ye are our glory and our joy.