Paul’s Ministry

For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our [a](A)reception among you (B)was not in vain, but after we had already suffered and been (C)treated abusively in (D)Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God (E)to speak to you the (F)gospel of God [b]amid much [c](G)opposition. For our (H)exhortation does not come from (I)error or (J)impurity or [d]by way of (K)deceit; (L)but just as we have been approved by God to be (M)entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, (N)not intending to please people, but to please God, who [e](O)examines our hearts. For we never came [f]with flattering speech, as you know, nor with (P)a pretext [g]for greed—(Q)God is our witness— nor did we (R)seek honor from people, either from you or from others, though [h]we could have [i]asserted our authority as (S)apostles of Christ. But we [j]proved to be [k](T)gentle [l]among you. (U)As a nursing mother [m]tenderly cares for her own children, in the same way we had a fond affection for you and were delighted to (V)share with you not only the (W)gospel of God, but also our own [n]lives, because you had become [o]very dear to us.

For you recall, brothers and sisters, our (X)labor and hardship: it was by (Y)working night and day so as not to be a (Z)burden to any of you, that we proclaimed to you the (AA)gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and so is (AB)God, of (AC)how devoutly and rightly and blamelessly we [p]behaved toward you [q]believers; 11 just as you know how we were (AD)exhorting and encouraging and (AE)imploring each one of you as (AF)a father would his own children, 12 so that you would (AG)walk in a manner worthy of the God who (AH)calls you into His own kingdom and (AI)glory.

13 For this reason we also constantly (AJ)thank God that when you received the (AK)word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it (AL)not as the word of mere men, but as what it really is, the word of God, (AM)which also is at work in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers and sisters, became (AN)imitators of (AO)the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are (AP)in Judea, for (AQ)you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, (AR)even as they did from the Jews, 15 (AS)who both killed the Lord Jesus and (AT)the prophets, and [r]drove us out. [s]They are not pleasing to God, [t]but hostile to all people, 16 (AU)hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles (AV)so that they may be saved; with the result that they always [u](AW)reach the limit of their sins. But (AX)wrath has come upon them [v]fully.

17 But we, brothers and sisters, having been orphaned from you by absence for a [w]short while—(AY)in [x]person, not in [y]spirit—were all the more eager with great desire (AZ)to see your face. 18 [z]For (BA)we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, [aa](BB)more than once—and (BC)Satan (BD)hindered us. 19 For who is our hope, or (BE)joy or crown of pride, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His [ab](BF)coming? Or is it not indeed you? 20 For you are (BG)our glory and joy.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 2:1 Or coming to you
  2. 1 Thessalonians 2:2 Or during
  3. 1 Thessalonians 2:2 Or struggle; or conflict
  4. 1 Thessalonians 2:3 Lit in deceit
  5. 1 Thessalonians 2:4 Or approves
  6. 1 Thessalonians 2:5 Lit in a word of flattery
  7. 1 Thessalonians 2:5 I.e., to conceal greed
  8. 1 Thessalonians 2:6 Lit being able to
  9. 1 Thessalonians 2:6 Or been burdensome as
  10. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Or became gentle
  11. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Three early mss infants
  12. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Lit in the midst of you
  13. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Or cherishes
  14. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 Or souls
  15. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 Lit beloved
  16. 1 Thessalonians 2:10 Lit became
  17. 1 Thessalonians 2:10 Or who believe
  18. 1 Thessalonians 2:15 Or persecuted us
  19. 1 Thessalonians 2:15 Lit and
  20. 1 Thessalonians 2:15 Lit and
  21. 1 Thessalonians 2:16 Lit complete their
  22. 1 Thessalonians 2:16 Or forever; lit to the end
  23. 1 Thessalonians 2:17 Lit occasion of an hour
  24. 1 Thessalonians 2:17 Lit face
  25. 1 Thessalonians 2:17 Lit heart
  26. 1 Thessalonians 2:18 Or Because
  27. 1 Thessalonians 2:18 Lit both once and twice
  28. 1 Thessalonians 2:19 Or presence

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