保罗的服事

弟兄们,你们自己知道,我们进到你们那里并不是空无果效的; 相反,正如你们知道,虽然我们以前在腓立比受了苦、受了凌辱,但是靠着我们的神,我们还是放胆直言,在大争战中把神的福音传给了你们。 我们的劝勉不是出于迷惑[a],不是出于污秽,也不是用诡诈; 相反,我们怎样被神考验而受了福音的委托,我们就照样传讲;不是要讨人的喜悦,而是要讨神的喜悦——神是考验我们内心的。 实际上,我们从来没有用过谄媚的话,这是你们知道的;也没有怀着贪婪的居心,这是神可以见证的[b] 无论向你们或向其他人,我们也都没有寻求从人来的荣耀。 我们身为基督的使徒,虽然可以加给你们重担,但是我们在你们当中成了温柔的[c],就像哺乳的母亲顾惜自己的儿女那样。 我们这样眷爱你们,不仅乐意把神的福音分享给你们,连自己的生命[d]也乐意分享给你们,因为你们成了我们所爱的人。 弟兄们,你们记得我们的辛苦和劳碌:我们把神的福音传给你们的时候,我们日夜做工,免得成为你们任何人的负担。 10 你们和神可以见证:我们对你们这些信的人是多么圣洁、公义、无可指责的。 11 正如你们知道我们怎样待你们每一个人,就像父亲待自己的儿女那样; 12 我们鼓励你们,安慰你们,忠告你们,为要你们行事为人配得上那召唤你们进入他国度和荣耀的神。

两种态度

13 我们之所以也不住地感谢神,是因为你们接受了从我们所听的神的话语,没有把它看做人的话语,而是把它看做神的话语接受了;这确实是神的话语,而且它也正在你们这些信的人里面做工。 14 弟兄们,你们效法了犹太地区在基督耶稣里属神的各教会,因为你们也受了自己同胞的苦害,就像他们受了犹太人的苦害那样。 15 这些犹太人不但杀了主耶稣和[e]先知们,也驱逐了我们,并且不讨神的喜悦,又与所有的人作对, 16 阻止我们向外邦人传道使外邦人得救。这样,他们常常积满自己的罪孽,而神的[f]震怒在最后临到了他们身上!

保罗的渴望

17 弟兄们,我们被迫暂时与你们分离——身体分离,心却没有;我们非常渴望并且更加努力要见你们的面, 18 所以我们想要到你们那里去。我保罗确实一再地要去,只是撒旦拦阻了我们。 19 我们主耶稣[g]来临的时候,在主[h]面前,到底谁是我们的盼望、喜乐和所夸耀的冠冕呢?难道不也是你们吗? 20 的确,你们就是我们的荣耀和喜乐。

Footnotes

  1. 帖撒罗尼迦前书 2:3 迷惑——或译作“错觉”。
  2. 帖撒罗尼迦前书 2:5 这是神可以见证的——原文直译“神就是见证者”。
  3. 帖撒罗尼迦前书 2:7 温柔的——有古抄本作“小孩子”。
  4. 帖撒罗尼迦前书 2:8 生命——原文直译“灵魂”。
  5. 帖撒罗尼迦前书 2:15 有古抄本附“他们自己的”。
  6. 帖撒罗尼迦前书 2:16 神的——辅助词语。
  7. 帖撒罗尼迦前书 2:19 耶稣——有古抄本作“耶稣基督”。
  8. 帖撒罗尼迦前书 2:19 主——原文直译“他”。

Paul’s Work in Thessalonica

Brothers and sisters, you know that our visit to you was not a failure. Before we came to you, people in Philippi abused us with insults and made us suffer. You know all about that. And then, when we came to you, many people there caused trouble for us. But our God gave us the courage we needed to tell you his Good News. When we encourage people to believe the Good News, it’s not out of wrong motives. We are not trying to trick or fool anyone. No, we did it because God is the one who gave us this work. And this was only after he tested us and saw that we could be trusted to do it. So when we speak, we are only trying to please God, not anyone else. He is the one who can see what is in our hearts.

You know that we never tried to influence you by saying nice things about you. We were not trying to get your money. We had no greed to hide from you. God knows that this is true. We were not looking for praise from people—not from you or anyone else.

When we were with you, as apostles of Christ we could have used our authority to make you help us. But we were very gentle[a] with you. We were like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you very much, so we were happy to share God’s Good News with you. But not only that—we were also happy to share even our own lives with you. Brothers and sisters, I know that you remember how hard we worked. We worked night and day to support ourselves, so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we did the work of telling you God’s Good News.

10 When we were there with you believers, we were pure, honest, and without fault in the way we lived. You know, just as God does, that this is true. 11 You know that we treated each one of you the way a father treats his own children. 12 We encouraged you, we comforted you, and we told you to live good lives for God. He calls you to be part of his glorious kingdom.

13 Also, we always thank God because of the way you accepted his message. You heard it and accepted it as God’s message, not our own. And it really is God’s message. And it works in you who believe. 14 Brothers and sisters, you are just like God’s churches in Judea.[b] I mean that you were treated badly by your own people, just as those believers in Christ Jesus were treated badly by other Jews— 15 the same Jews who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets. And they forced us to leave their country. They are not pleasing to God, and they are against everyone else. 16 And they are trying to stop us from teaching those who are not Jews. They don’t want them to be saved. But they are just adding more and more sins to the ones they already have. Now the time has come for them to suffer God’s anger.

Paul’s Desire to Visit Them Again

17 Brothers and sisters, we were separated from you for a short time. But even though we were not there, our thoughts were still with you. We wanted very much to see you, and we tried very hard to do this. 18 Yes, we wanted to come to you. I, Paul, tried more than once to come, but Satan stopped us. 19 You are our hope, our joy, and the crown we will be proud of when our Lord Jesus Christ comes. 20 You bring us honor and joy.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 But … gentle Several Greek copies have “But we became babies.”
  2. 1 Thessalonians 2:14 Judea The Jewish land where Jesus lived and taught and where the church first began.

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 yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:

But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:

But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.

18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

20 For ye are our glory and joy.

Paul’s Conduct(A)

For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. But [a]even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at (B)Philippi, as you know, we were (C)bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. (D)For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.

But as (E)we have been approved by God (F)to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, (G)not as pleasing men, but God (H)who tests our hearts. For (I)neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a [b]cloak for covetousness—(J)God is witness. (K)Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when (L)we might have (M)made demands (N)as apostles of Christ. But (O)we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased (P)to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also (Q)our own lives, because you had become dear to us. For you remember, brethren, our (R)labor and toil; for laboring night and day, (S)that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

10 (T)You are witnesses, and God also, (U)how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and [c]charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 (V)that you would walk worthy of God (W)who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Their Conversion

13 For this reason we also thank God (X)without ceasing, because when you (Y)received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it (Z)not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively (AA)works in you who believe. 14 For you, brethren, became imitators (AB)of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For (AC)you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, 15 (AD)who killed both the Lord Jesus and (AE)their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God (AF)and are [d]contrary to all men, 16 (AG)forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always (AH)to fill up the measure of their sins; (AI)but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.

Longing to See Them

17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time (AJ)in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. 18 Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but (AK)Satan hindered us. 19 For (AL)what is our hope, or joy, or (AM)crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the (AN)presence of our Lord Jesus Christ (AO)at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 2:2 NU, M omit even
  2. 1 Thessalonians 2:5 pretext for greed
  3. 1 Thessalonians 2:11 NU, M implored
  4. 1 Thessalonians 2:15 hostile