⁵ You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed^(A)—God is our witness.^{(B) 6} We were not looking for praise from people,^(C) not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles^(D) of Christ we could have asserted our authority.^{(E) 7} Instead, we were like young children^[a] among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,^{(F) 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^(G) but our lives as well.^{(H) 9} Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked^(I) night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone^(J) while we preached the gospel of God to you. ¹⁰ You are witnesses,^(K) and so is God,^(L) of how holy,^(M) 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,^{(N) 12} encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy^(O) of God, who calls^(P) you into his kingdom and glory.

¹³ And we also thank God continually^(Q) because, when you received the word of God,^(R) 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^(S) of God’s churches in Judea,^(T) which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people^(U) the same things those churches suffered from the Jews ¹⁵ who killed the Lord Jesus^(V) and the prophets^(W) 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^(X) so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit.^(Y) 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),^(Z) out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.^{(AA) 18} For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan^(AB) blocked our way.^{(AC) 19} For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown^(AD) in which we will glory^(AE) in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?^(AF) Is it not you? ²⁰ Indeed, you are our glory^(AG) and joy.