1 Thessalonians 2
Christian Standard Bible
Paul’s Conduct
2 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our visit(A) with you was not without result. 2 On the contrary, after we had previously suffered(B) and were treated outrageously in Philippi,(C) as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition. 3 For our exhortation didn’t come from error or impurity(D) or an intent to deceive.(E) 4 Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted(F) with the gospel,(G) so we speak, not to please people, but rather God,(H) who examines our hearts.(I) 5 For we never used flattering speech, as you know, or had greedy(J) motives(K)—God is our witness(L)— 6 and we didn’t seek glory(M) from people, either from you or from others. 7 Although we could have been a burden as Christ’s apostles,(N) instead we were gentle[a] among you, as a nurse[b] nurtures her own children. 8 We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9 For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers and sisters. Working(O) night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God’s gospel to you. 10 You are witnesses,(P) and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously,(Q) and blamelessly(R) we conducted ourselves with you believers. 11 As you know, like a father with his own children,(S) 12 we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God,(T) who calls you into his own kingdom(U) and glory.(V)
Reception and Opposition to the Message
13 This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is,(W) the word of God,(X) which also works effectively in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea,(Y) since you have also suffered(Z) the same things from people of your own country,(AA) just as they did from the Jews 15 who killed the Lord Jesus(AB) and the prophets and persecuted us.(AC) They displease God and are hostile to everyone, 16 by keeping us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. As a result, they are constantly filling up their sins to the limit,(AD) and wrath has overtaken them at last.[c]
Paul’s Desire to See Them
17 But as for us, brothers and sisters, after we were forced to leave you[d] for a short time (in person, not in heart(AE)), we greatly desired and made every effort to return(AF) and see you face to face. 18 So we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan(AG) hindered us. 19 For who is our hope or joy(AH) or crown(AI) of boasting(AJ) in the presence of our Lord(AK) Jesus at his coming?(AL) Is it not you?(AM) 20 Indeed you are our glory(AN) and joy!
1 Thessalonians 2
New International Version
Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica
2 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you(A) was not without results.(B) 2 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) 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives,(F) nor are we trying to trick you.(G) 4 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) 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed(K)—God is our witness.(L) 6 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) 7 Instead, we were like young children[a] among you.
Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,(P) 8 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) 9 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 Thessalonians 2:7 Some manuscripts were gentle
- 1 Thessalonians 2:16 Or them fully
1 Thessalonians 2
Revised Geneva Translation
2 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain.
2 But even after we had suffered before (and were insulted at Philippi, as you know) we were emboldened by God to speak the Gospel of God to you with much struggle.
3 For our encouragement was not in error, nor of impurity, nor by deceit.
4 But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel, so we speak - not as those who please man, but God, Who examines our hearts.
5 Nor did we ever at any time use flattering words (as you know), nor cloaked covetousness. God is our witness.
6 Nor did we seek the praise of man - either by you or by others - when we might have imposed on you as the Apostles of Christ.
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherishes her children.
8 Having this affection toward you, it was our pleasure to have shared with you not only the Gospel of God, but also our own souls, because you were dear to us.
9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail. For we labored day and night (so that we would not be a burden to any of you) and preached to you the Gospel of God.
10 You and God are witnesses of how holily, and justly, and unblameably we behaved among you who believe.
11 As you know how we exhorted and comforted and testified to every one of you (as a father to his children).
12 So that you would walk worthy of God, Who has called you to His kingdom, and Glory.
13 For this reason also, we thank God unceasingly that when you received the Word of God (which you heard from us) you did not receive it as the word of man, but as it really is - the Word of God - which also works in you who believe.
14 For brothers, you have become followers of the churches of God (which in Judea are in Christ Jesus) because you have also suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they have from the Judeans,
15 who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own Prophets and have driven us out. And they do not please God and are contrary to all mankind
16 and forbid us to preach to the Gentiles (so that they might be saved), always fulfilling their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost.
17 But since, brothers, we were kept from you for a season (as far as sight, but not in the heart), we were eager to see your face with great desire.
18 Therefore, we would have come to you (I Paul, at least once or twice) but Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
20 Yes! You are our glory and joy!
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