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保羅在帖撒羅尼迦的工作

弟兄們,你們都知道,我們進到你們那裡,並不是白費工夫的。 我們從前在腓立比雖然受了苦,又被凌辱,可是靠著我們的 神,在強烈的反對之下,仍然放膽向你們述說 神的福音,這是你們知道的。 我們的呼籲,不是錯謬的,不是污穢的,也沒有詭詐。 相反地, 神既然考驗過我們,把福音委託給我們,我們就傳講,不像是討人歡心的,而是討那察驗我們心思的 神的喜悅。 我們從來不說奉承的話,這是你們知道的, 神可以作證,我們並沒有藉故起貪心, 6-7 也沒有向你們或別人求取人的榮譽。我們身為基督使徒的,雖然有權利受人尊敬,但我們在你們中間卻是謙和的,就像母親乳養自己的孩子。 我們這樣疼愛你們,不但樂意把 神的福音傳給你們,連自己的性命也樂意給你們,因為你們是我們所愛的。 弟兄們,你們應該記得我們的辛苦和勞碌;我們把 神的福音傳給你們的時候,怎樣晝夜作工,免得你們有人受累。 10 我們對你們信的人是多麼聖潔、公義、無可指摘,這是你們和 神都可以作證的。 11 正如你們知道的,我們是怎樣好像父親對待兒女一樣對待你們各人: 12 勸勉你們,鼓勵你們,叮囑你們,要你們行事為人,配得上那召你們進入他的國和榮耀的 神。

13 我們也為這緣故不住感謝 神,因為你們接受了我們所傳的 神的道,不認為這是人的道,而認為這確實是 神的道。這道也運行在你們信的人裡面。 14 弟兄們,你們好像猶太地在基督耶穌裡 神的眾教會一樣,他們怎樣遭受猶太人的迫害,你們也照樣遭受同族人的迫害。 15 這些猶太人殺了主耶穌和眾先知,又把我們趕出來。他們得不到 神的喜悅,並且和所有的人作對, 16 阻撓我們向外族人傳道,不讓他們得救,以致惡貫滿盈。 神的忿怒終必臨到他們身上。

保羅渴望再訪帖撒羅尼迦

17 弟兄們,我們被迫暫時離開你們,不過是身體離開,心卻沒有離開。我們非常渴望再見到你們。 18 因此,我們很想到你們那裡去,我保羅也一再想去,只是撒但阻擋了我們。 19 我們主耶穌再來的時候,我們在他面前的盼望、喜樂或所誇耀的冠冕是甚麼呢?不就是你們嗎? 20 是的,你們就是我們的榮耀,我們的喜樂。

For, brethren, ye know our entry to you, for it was not vain;

but first we suffered, and were punished with wrongs, as ye know in Philippi, and had trust in our Lord [we had trust in the Lord], to speak to you the gospel of God in much busyness.

And our exhortation is not of error [Soothly our exhortation, or teaching, was not of error], neither of uncleanness, neither in guile,

but as we be approved of God, that the gospel of God should be taken to us [but as we be proved of God, that the gospel should be taken to us], so we speak; not as pleasing to men, but to God that proveth our hearts.

For neither we were any time in word of glossing [Forsooth neither we were any time in word of flattering], as ye know, neither in occasion of avarice; God is witness;

neither seeking glory of men, neither of you, neither of others, when we, as Christ's apostles, might have been in charge to you [when we might have been chargeous to you, as Christ's apostles].

But we were made little in the middle of you, as if a nurse foster her sons;

so we desiring you with great love, would have betaken to you, not only the gospel of God, but also our lives [so we desiring you covetingly, or with great love, would betake to you, not only the gospel of God, but also our souls, or lives], for ye be made most dear-worthy to us.

For, brethren, ye be mindful of our travail and weariness; we worked night and day, that we should not grieve any of you, and preached to you the gospel of God[a].

10 God and ye be witnesses, how holily, and justly, and without plaint, we were to you that believed. [Ye be witnesses, and God, how holily, and justly, and without quarrel, or plaint, we were to you that believed.]

11 As ye know, how we prayed you, and comforted each of you, as the father his sons,

12 and we have witnessed, that ye should go worthily to God, that called you into his kingdom and glory.

13 Therefore [and] we do thankings to God without ceasing. For when ye had taken of us the word of the hearing of God, ye took it not as the word of men, but as it is verily, the word of God, that worketh in you that have believed.

14 For, brethren, ye be made followers of the churches of God, that be in Judaea, in Christ Jesus, for [and] ye have suffered the same things of your even-lineages, as [and] they of the Jews.

15 Which slew both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and pursued us, and they please not to God, and they be adversaries to all men;

16 forbidding us to speak to heathen men, that they be made safe, that they fill their sins evermore; for the wrath of God came on them into the end [forsooth the wrath of God before came upon them till into the end].

17 And, brethren, we desolate from you for a time, by mouth and in beholding, but not in heart, have hied more plenteously to see your face with great desire.[b]

18 For we would come to you, yea, I Paul, once and again, but Satan hindered us [but Satan letted us].

19 For why what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glory? Whether ye be not before our Lord Jesus Christ in his coming?

20 For ye be our glory and joy.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 2:9 night and day working, that we should not grieve any of you, we preached to you the evangel of God
  2. 1 Thessalonians 2:17 Forsooth, brethren, we be desolate from you at the time of an hour, in beholding, as in presence, not in heart, more abundantly have hied to see your face with great desire.