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1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
New International Version
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
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)
Footnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Some manuscripts were gentle
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
The Message
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
The Message
2 1-2 So, friends, it’s obvious that our visit to you was no waste of time. We had just been given rough treatment in Philippi, as you know, but that didn’t slow us down. We were sure of ourselves in God, and went right ahead and said our piece, presenting God’s Message to you, defiant of the opposition.
No Hidden Agendas
3-5 God tested us thoroughly to make sure we were qualified to be trusted with this Message. Be assured that when we speak to you we’re not after crowd approval—only God approval. Since we’ve been put through that battery of tests, you’re guaranteed that both we and the Message are free of error, mixed motives, or hidden agendas. We never used words to butter you up. No one knows that better than you. And God knows we never used words as a smoke screen to take advantage of you.
6-8 Even though we had some standing as Christ’s apostles, we never threw our weight around or tried to come across as important, with you or anyone else. We weren’t standoffish with you. We took you just as you were. We were never patronizing, never condescending, but we cared for you the way a mother cares for her children. We loved you dearly. Not content to just pass on the Message, we wanted to give you our hearts. And we did.
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The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson