1 Thessalonians 2-3
English Standard Version
Paul's Ministry to the Thessalonians
2 For you yourselves know, brothers,[a] that our (A)coming to you (B)was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated (C)at Philippi, as you know, (D)we had boldness in our God (E)to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much (F)conflict. 3 For (G)our appeal does not spring from (H)error or (I)impurity or (J)any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God (K)to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not (L)to please man, but to please God (M)who tests our hearts. 5 (N)For we never came with words of flattery,[b] as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—(O)God is witness. 6 (P)Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, (Q)though we could have made (R)demands as (S)apostles of Christ. 7 But we were (T)gentle[c] among you, (U)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 (V)but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
9 For you remember, brothers, (W)our labor and toil: we (X)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 (Y)God also, (Z)how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11 For you know how, (AA)like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and (AB)charged (AC)you to walk in a manner worthy of God, (AD)who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
13 And (AE)we also thank God constantly[d] for this, that when you received (AF)the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it (AG)not as the word of men[e] but as what it really is, the word of God, (AH)which is at work in you believers. 14 For you, brothers, (AI)became imitators of (AJ)the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For (AK)you suffered the same things from your own countrymen (AL)as they did from the Jews,[f] 15 (AM)who killed both the Lord Jesus and (AN)the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and (AO)oppose all mankind 16 (AP)by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always (AQ)to fill up the measure of their sins. But (AR)wrath has come upon them at last![g]
Paul's Longing to See Them Again
17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, (AS)in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire (AT)to see you face to face, 18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan (AU)hindered us. 19 For what is our hope or (AV)joy or crown of boasting (AW)before our Lord Jesus at his (AX)coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
3 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing (AY)to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we (AZ)sent Timothy, (BA)our brother and God's coworker[h] in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that (BB)we are destined for this. 4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, (BC)just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. 5 For this reason, (BD)when I could bear it no longer, (BE)I sent to learn about your faith, (BF)for fear that somehow (BG)the tempter had tempted you and (BH)our labor would be in vain.
Timothy's Encouraging Report
6 But (BI)now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of (BJ)your faith and love and reported (BK)that you always remember us kindly and (BL)long to see us, as we long to see you— 7 for this reason, brothers,[i] in all our distress and affliction (BM)we have been comforted about you through your faith. 8 For now we live, if you (BN)are standing fast in the Lord. 9 For (BO)what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly (BP)night and day (BQ)that we may see you face to face and (BR)supply what is lacking in your faith?
11 Now may (BS)our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, (BT)direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord (BU)make you increase and abound in love (BV)for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may (BW)establish your hearts blameless in holiness before (BX)our God and Father, at (BY)the coming of our Lord Jesus (BZ)with all his saints.
Footnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 2:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 9, 14, 17
- 1 Thessalonians 2:5 Or with a flattering speech
- 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Some manuscripts infants
- 1 Thessalonians 2:13 Or without ceasing
- 1 Thessalonians 2:13 The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women
- 1 Thessalonians 2:14 The Greek word Ioudaioi can refer to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, who opposed the Christian faith in that time
- 1 Thessalonians 2:16 Or completely, or forever
- 1 Thessalonians 3:2 Some manuscripts servant
- 1 Thessalonians 3:7 Or brothers and sisters
1 Thessalonians 2-3
King James Version
2 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
2 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.
3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
4 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.
5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
8 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.
9 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.
3 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.
12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
