保罗在帖撒罗尼迦的工作

弟兄姊妹,你们自己知道,我们那次探望你们并没有白费。 你们也知道,我们之前在腓立比遭受了迫害和凌辱,遇到强烈的反对,但仍然靠着我们的上帝放胆向你们传扬祂的福音。 我们的劝勉并非出于谬误、不良动机或诡诈。 我们得到了上帝的认可,受委派传福音。我们不是要取悦人,而是要取悦鉴察我们内心的上帝。

你们知道,我们没有花言巧语奉承人,也没有心存贪念,上帝可以为我们作证。 我们不求得到你们或其他任何人的赞扬。 身为基督的使徒,我们理当受到你们的尊重,然而我们像母亲抚育婴儿一样温柔地对待你们。 我们深爱你们,对你们有深厚的感情,不仅乐意把上帝的福音传给你们,甚至把生命给你们也在所不惜。

弟兄姊妹,你们一定记得我们的劳苦和艰难。我们一面向你们传福音,一面昼夜辛勤工作,免得成为你们任何人的负担。 10 我们怎样以圣洁、公义、纯全的方式对待你们众信徒,你们自己可以作证,上帝也可以作证。 11 你们也知道,我们对待你们就像父亲对待自己的孩子一样。 12 我们安慰你们,劝勉你们,督促你们,好叫你们行事为人对得起上帝,祂呼召你们进入祂的国、享受祂的荣耀。

13 我们不住地感谢上帝,因为你们从我们这里听了上帝的道后就接受了,确信这不是人的道理,而是上帝的道。这道正在你们信的人心里发挥作用。

14 弟兄姊妹,你们的遭遇和犹太地区基督耶稣的众教会的遭遇一样。你们受到了自己同胞的迫害,他们也受到了犹太人的迫害。 15 这些犹太人杀死了主耶稣和众先知,又迫害我们。他们不但冒犯上帝,还与所有的人为敌, 16 阻止我们传福音给外族人,唯恐他们得救。这些人恶贯满盈,上帝的烈怒终于临到了他们头上。

保罗渴望去帖撒罗尼迦

17 弟兄姊妹,我们暂时与你们分离,心灵却与你们在一起。我们非常渴望见到你们。 18 我们想去你们那里,我保罗也一次又一次地想去,只是遭到撒旦的拦阻。 19 我们主耶稣再来的时候,我们在祂面前的盼望、喜乐和可夸耀的冠冕是什么呢?不就是你们吗? 20 因为你们是我们的荣耀和喜乐。

保罗在帖撒罗尼迦的工作

兄弟们,你们自己知道,我们对你们的访问不是一个失败。 而是正如你们所知的那样,我们以前在腓立比遭受了痛苦与侮辱,但是,在上帝的帮助下,我们恢复了勇气,顶住了强大的阻力,向你们宣讲了上帝的福音。 的确,我们传教的目的不是出于欺骗和不纯的动机,也不是企图愚弄任何人。 相反,做为得到上帝称赞的人,我们受到传播福音的委托,因此要讲话。我们不是在企图讨好凡人,而是要让检验我们动机的上帝满意。 正如你们所知,在你们面前,我们从未用过奉承的语言,也从未以传教为借口来掩盖贪婪,上帝就是我们的证人! 我们也没有寻求人们的称赞,无论是你们的,还是其他人的。

尽管我们做为基督的使徒 [a]可以对你们发号施令,但是我们在你们中间却很和气 [b],就像母亲慈爱地照顾孩子一样。 由于我们对你们深厚的爱,我们不但愿意与你们分享上帝的福音,甚至愿意为你们献出我们的生命,因为你们对我们是如此地珍贵。 兄弟们,要记住我们的辛苦和艰难。我们在向你们传播上帝的福音时,日以继夜地辛劳,为的是不给你们任何人增添负担。

10 你们是见证人,上帝也是见证人。我们和你们这些信徒在一起时的行为是虔诚、正义和无可指责的。 11 正如你们熟知的一样,我们待你们每一个人,就像父亲待自己的子女那样。 12 我们鼓励你们,安慰你们,督促要使你们的生活方式令召唤你们进入他的王国和荣耀的上帝满意。

13 为此,我们也要继续感谢上帝,因为当你们领受到从我们这里听到的上帝的信息时,你们领受的不是人的信息,而实际上是上帝的信息,这信息在信徒中工作着。 14 兄弟们,你们应该以在犹太信仰基督耶稣的上帝的教会为榜样,因为你们都遭遇了同样的患难,就像你们一样,他们也从自己的犹太同胞那里遭受到了苦难。 15 这些犹太人杀害了主耶稣和先知,把我们赶出家园,他们不但没有令上帝满意,而且也在与全人类为敌。 16 他们企图阻止我们教导非教徒,不让他们得到拯救的信息。他们不断地犯罪,几乎到了恶贯满盈的地步,上帝的愤怒现在终于彻底地降临到他们身上了。

保罗希望再次访问他们

17 至于我们,兄弟们,我们与你们暂时分别一段时间,(这只是身体上的分离,但在思想上却没有分开),我们迫切地期待着见到你们。 18 我们曾努力要来拜访你们。的确,我,保罗,不止一次要去探望你们,但都受到了撒旦的阻挠。 19 当我们的主耶稣基督来临时,你们难道不是我们的希望、快乐和我们为此骄傲的桂冠吗? 20 你们是我们的荣耀和快乐。

Footnotes

  1. 帖 撒 羅 尼 迦 前 書 2:7 使徒: 受耶稣所选,用特殊的方式代表他的人。
  2. 帖 撒 羅 尼 迦 前 書 2:7 许多古版为“但是我们在你们当中却是婴儿。”

Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you(A) was not without results.(B) We had previously suffered(C) and been treated outrageously in Philippi,(D) as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.(E) For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives,(F) nor are we trying to trick you.(G) On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.(H) We are not trying to please people(I) but God, who tests our hearts.(J) You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed(K)—God is our witness.(L) We were not looking for praise from people,(M) not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles(N) of Christ we could have asserted our authority.(O) Instead, we were like young children[a] among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,(P) so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God(Q) but our lives as well.(R) Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked(S) night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone(T) while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses,(U) and so is God,(V) of how holy,(W) righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,(X) 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy(Y) of God, who calls(Z) you into his kingdom and glory.

13 And we also thank God continually(AA) because, when you received the word of God,(AB) which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators(AC) of God’s churches in Judea,(AD) which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people(AE) the same things those churches suffered from the Jews 15 who killed the Lord Jesus(AF) and the prophets(AG) and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone 16 in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles(AH) so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit.(AI) The wrath of God has come upon them at last.[b]

Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians

17 But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought),(AJ) out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.(AK) 18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan(AL) blocked our way.(AM) 19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown(AN) in which we will glory(AO) in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?(AP) Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory(AQ) and joy.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Some manuscripts were gentle
  2. 1 Thessalonians 2:16 Or them fully

For gar you yourselves autos know oida, brothers adelphos, that hoti · ho our hēmeis coming eisodos · ho to pros you hymeis was ginomai not ou in vain kenos. We had previously suffered propaschō and kai been shamefully treated hybrizō in en Philippi Philippoi, as kathōs you know oida, but alla we had the courage parrēsiazomai in en · ho our hēmeis God theos to declare laleō to pros you hymeis the ho gospel euangelion of ho God theos in en spite of great polys opposition agōn. · ho For gar our hēmeis appeal paraklēsis was not ou based ek on deceit planē, nor oude did it rise from ek impure motives akatharsia or oude by way of en trickery dolos, but alla just as kathōs we have been approved dokimazō by hypo · ho God theos to be entrusted pisteuō with the ho gospel euangelion, so houtōs we speak laleō, not ou to hōs please areskō man anthrōpos, but alla God theos who ho tests dokimazō · ho our hēmeis hearts kardia.

For gar we ginomai never oute came ginomai with en flattering kolakeia speech logos, as kathōs you know oida, or oute with en a pretext prophasis for greed pleonexia God theos is our witness martys. Neither oute did we seek zēteō praise doxa from ek men anthrōpos, whether oute from apo you hymeis or oute from apo others allos. Although we could dynamai have made eimi demands en baros as hōs apostles apostolos of Christ Christos, we were ginomai gentle nēpios among en mesos you hymeis, like hōs ean a mother trophos tenderly nursing thalpō · ho her own heautou children teknon. So houtōs deep was our affection homeiromai for you hymeis that we were pleased eudokeō to share metadidōmi with you hymeis not ou only monon the ho gospel euangelion of ho God theos but alla · ho our own heautou selves psychē as well kai, so dioti dear agapētos had you become ginomai to us hēmeis.

For gar you recall mnēmoneuō, brothers adelphos, · ho our hēmeis labor kopos and kai · ho toil mochthos. We worked ergazomai night nyx and kai day hēmera so as pros not to become a burden epibareō to any tis of you hymeis, while proclaiming kēryssō to eis you hymeis the ho gospel euangelion of ho God theos. 10 You hymeis are witnesses martys, and kai so is · ho God theos, how hōs devout hosiōs, · kai upright dikaiōs, and kai blameless amemptōs was our conduct ginomai toward you hymeis · ho believers pisteuō 11 how kathaper, as hōs you know oida, we treated each hekastos one heis of you hymeis as hōs a father patēr would treat his own heautou children teknon. 12 So we exhorted parakaleō you hymeis, · kai encouraged paramytheomai you, and kai charged martyreō you to eis · ho conduct peripateō yourselves hymeis in a manner worthy axiōs of ho God theos, who ho calls kaleō you hymeis into eis · ho his own heautou kingdom basileia and kai glory doxa.

13 And kai for dia this houtos reason we hēmeis also kai constantly adialeiptōs thank eucharisteō · ho God theos, that hoti when you received paralambanō the word logos of ho God theos which you heard akoē from para us hēmeis, you accepted dechomai it not ou as a human anthrōpos word logos, but alla as kathōs it truly alēthōs is eimi, the word logos of God theos, which hos even kai now is doing energeō its work in en you hymeis who ho believe pisteuō.

14 For gar you hymeis, brothers adelphos, became ginomai imitators mimētēs of the ho churches ekklēsia of ho God theos in en Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous which ho are eimi in en · ho Judea Ioudaia; because hoti you hymeis too kai suffered paschō the ho same autos things from hypo · ho your own idios countrymen symphyletēs, even as kathōs · kai they autos did from hypo the ho Jews Ioudaios, 15 who ho · kai killed apokteinō the ho Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous and kai the ho prophets prophētēs, and kai have driven us hēmeis out ekdiōkō, · kai who are displeasing to God theos and kai oppose enantios all pas mankind anthrōpos, 16 who prevent kōlyō us hēmeis from speaking laleō to the ho Gentiles ethnos that hina they might be saved sōzō. Their goal eis has always pantote been to complete anaplēroō the full number of their autos · ho sins hamartia. But de God’s wrath orgē has caught up phthanō with epi them autos · ho at eis last telos!

17 As for de us hēmeis, brothers adelphos, when we were separated aporphanizō from apo you hymeis for pros a short kairos time hōra in person prosōpon but not ou in heart kardia we were all the more perissoterōs eager spoudazō, with en intense polys longing epithumia, to see you hymeis · ho in person prosōpon. 18 For dioti we wanted thelō to come erchomai to pros you hymeis I egō, Paul Paulos, · kai time hapax and kai again dis but kai Satan Satanas hindered enkoptō us hēmeis. · ho 19 For gar what tis is our hēmeis hope elpis, or ē joy chara, or ē crown stephanos of rejoicing kauchēsis before emprosthen · ho our hēmeis Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous at en · ho his autos coming parousia? Is it not ouchi indeed kai you hymeis? 20 Yes gar, you hymeis are eimi · ho our hēmeis glory doxa and kai · ho joy chara!