1 Thessalonians 2
Wycliffe Bible
2 For, brethren, ye know our entry to you, for it was not vain;
2 but first we suffered, and were punished with wrongs, as ye know in Philippi, and had trust in our Lord [we had trust in the Lord], to speak to you the gospel of God in much busyness.
3 And our exhortation is not of error [Soothly our exhortation, or teaching, was not of error], neither of uncleanness, neither in guile,
4 but as we be approved of God, that the gospel of God should be taken to us [but as we be proved of God, that the gospel should be taken to us], so we speak; not as pleasing to men, but to God that proveth our hearts.
5 For neither we were any time in word of glossing [Forsooth neither we were any time in word of flattering], as ye know, neither in occasion of avarice; God is witness;
6 neither seeking glory of men, neither of you, neither of others, when we, as Christ's apostles, might have been in charge to you [when we might have been chargeous to you, as Christ's apostles].
7 But we were made little in the middle of you, as if a nurse foster her sons;
8 so we desiring you with great love, would have betaken to you, not only the gospel of God, but also our lives [so we desiring you covetingly, or with great love, would betake to you, not only the gospel of God, but also our souls, or lives], for ye be made most dear-worthy to us.
9 For, brethren, ye be mindful of our travail and weariness; we worked night and day, that we should not grieve any of you, and preached to you the gospel of God[a].
10 God and ye be witnesses, how holily, and justly, and without plaint, we were to you that believed. [Ye be witnesses, and God, how holily, and justly, and without quarrel, or plaint, we were to you that believed.]
11 As ye know, how we prayed you, and comforted each of you, as the father his sons,
12 and we have witnessed, that ye should go worthily to God, that called you into his kingdom and glory.
13 Therefore [and] we do thankings to God without ceasing. For when ye had taken of us the word of the hearing of God, ye took it not as the word of men, but as it is verily, the word of God, that worketh in you that have believed.
14 For, brethren, ye be made followers of the churches of God, that be in Judaea, in Christ Jesus, for [and] ye have suffered the same things of your even-lineages, as [and] they of the Jews.
15 Which slew both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and pursued us, and they please not to God, and they be adversaries to all men;
16 forbidding us to speak to heathen men, that they be made safe, that they fill their sins evermore; for the wrath of God came on them into the end [forsooth the wrath of God before came upon them till into the end].
17 And, brethren, we desolate from you for a time, by mouth and in beholding, but not in heart, have hied more plenteously to see your face with great desire.[b]
18 For we would come to you, yea, I Paul, once and again, but Satan hindered us [but Satan letted us].
19 For why what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glory? Whether ye be not before our Lord Jesus Christ in his coming?
20 For ye be our glory and joy.
Footnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 2:9 night and day working, that we should not grieve any of you, we preached to you the evangel of God
- 1 Thessalonians 2:17 Forsooth, brethren, we be desolate from you at the time of an hour, in beholding, as in presence, not in heart, more abundantly have hied to see your face with great desire.
1 Thessalonians 2
New Matthew Bible
Paul reminds them of the godly life he led among them when he preached the gospel to them, thanks God that they receive his word so fruitfully, and excuses his absence.
2 For you yourselves know, brethren, of our coming to you, how it was not in vain. 2 But even after we had suffered before, and were shamefully treated at Philippi (as you well know), then we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God with much striving. 3 Our exhortation was not to bring you to error, nor yet to uncleanness. Neither was it with guile, 4 but as we were approved by God to have the gospel committed to us, even so we speak – not as though we intended to please men, but God, who tries our hearts.
5 Neither was our conversation at any time with flattering words, as you well know, nor in cloaked covetousness; God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek praise from men: not from you, nor yet from any others, when we might have imposed ourselves upon you as the apostles of Christ. 7 But we were tender among you. Even as a nurse-mother cares for her children, 8 so was our affection toward you. Our good pleasure was to have given you not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because you were dear to us.
9 You remember, brethren, our labour and travail. For we laboured day and night because we did not want to be burdensome to any of you, and preached to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, how holily and justly and blamelessly we conducted ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted and comforted and besought every one of you, as a father his children, 12 to walk worthy of God, who has called you unto his kingdom and glory.
13 We thank God without ceasing, because when you received from us the word whereby God was preached, you received it not as the word of man, but even as it was indeed: the word of God, which works in you who believe. 14 For you, brethren, took after the congregations of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus. For you have suffered similar things from your countrymen as we ourselves have suffered from the Jews. 15 As they killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, even so have they persecuted us. And they do not please God, and are contrary to all men, 16 and oppose us preaching to the Gentiles so that they might be saved, to fulfil their sins always. For the wrath of God has come on them, even to the utmost.
17 But since, brethren, we have been kept from you for a season (as to bodily presence, but not in the heart), we tried all the more to see you personally, with great desire. 18 And therefore we would have gone to you – I, Paul, once and again – but Satan withstood us. 19 For what is our hope or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 20 Yes, you are our pride and joy.
1 Thessalonians 2
1599 Geneva Bible
2 1 He declareth how faithfully he preacheth the Gospel unto them, 5 seeking neither gain, 6 nor praise of men: 10 and he proveth the same by their own testimony: 14 that they did courageously bear persecution of their countrymen: 17 that he desireth very much to see them.
1 For [a]ye yourselves know, brethren, that our entrance in unto you was not in vain,
2 [b]But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated at (A)Philippi, (as ye know) we were bold in [c]our God, to speak unto you the Gospel of God, with much striving.
3 [d]For our exhortation was not by deceit, nor [e]by uncleanness, nor by guile.
4 [f]But as we were [g]allowed of God, that the Gospel should be committed unto us, so we speak, not as they that please men, but God, which [h]approveth our hearts:
5 Neither yet did we ever use flattering words, as ye know, nor colored covetousness, God is record.
6 [i]Neither sought we praise of men, neither of you, nor of others, when we might have been [j]chargeable, as the Apostles of Christ.
7 But we were [k]gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children.
8 [l]Thus being affectioned toward you, our good will was to have dealt unto you, not the Gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
9 [m]For ye remember, brethren, (B)our labor and travail: for we labored day and night, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, and preached unto you the Gospel of God.
10 [n]Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe.
11 [o]As ye know how that we exhorted you, and comforted, and besought every one of you, (as a father his children.)
12 [p]That ye (C)would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
13 [q]For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, that 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 indeed the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe.
14 [r]For brethren, ye are become followers of the Churches of God, which in Judea are in [s]Christ Jesus, because ye have also suffered the same things of your own [t]country men, even as they have of the Jews,
15 [u]Who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own Prophets, and have persecuted us away, [v]and God they please not, and are contrary to [w]all men,
16 And forbid us to preach unto the Gentiles, that they might be saved, to [x]fulfill their sins always: for the [y]wrath of God is come on them to the utmost.
17 [z]Forasmuch, brethren, as we [aa]were kept from you for a season, concerning sight, but not in the heart, we enforced the more to see your face with great desire.
18 Therefore we would have come unto you (I Paul, at least once or twice) but Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our hope or joy, or crown of rejoicing? are not even you it in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
20 Yea, ye are our glory and joy.
Footnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 2:1 That which he touched before shortly concerning his Apostleship, he handleth now more at large, and to that end and purpose which we spake of.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:2 The virtues of a true Pastor are freely, and without fear to preach the Gospel, even in the midst of dangers.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:2 Through God his gracious help.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:3 To teach pure doctrine faithfully and with a pure heart.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:3 By any wicked and naughty kind of dealing.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:4 To approve his conscience to God, being free from all flattery and covetousness.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:4 Seeing there is this difference between the judgments of God and the judgments of men, that when men choose, they respect the qualities of those things which stand before them, but God findeth the reason of his counsel only in himself, it followeth, that seeing we are not able to think a good thought, that whomsoever he first chooseth to those holy callings, he maketh them able, and doth not find them able. And therefore in that we are allowed of God, it hangeth upon his mercy.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:4 Which liketh and alloweth them.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:6 To submit himself even to the basest, to win them, and to eschew all pride.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:6 When I might lawfully have lived upon the expenses of the Church.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:7 We were not rough, but easy, and gentle, as a nurse that is neither ambitious nor covetous, but taketh all pains as patiently, as if she were a mother.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:8 To have the flock that is committed unto him in more estimation than his own life.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:9 To depart with his own rights rather than to be chargeable to his sheep.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:10 To excel others in example of godly life.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:11 To exhort and comfort with a fatherly mind and affection.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:12 To exhort all men diligently and earnestly to lead a godly life.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:13 Having approved his ministry, he commendeth again (to that end and purpose that I spake of) the cheerfulness of the Thessalonians, which was answerable to his diligence in preaching, and their manly patience.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:14 He confirmeth them in their afflictions which they suffered of their own people, because they were afflicted of their own countrymen: which came as well (saith he) to the Churches of the Jews, as to them: and therefore they ought to take it in good part.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:14 Which Christ hath gathered together.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:14 Even of them which are of the same country, and the same town that you are of.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:15 He preventeth an offense which might be taken, for that the Jews especially above all others persecuted the Gospel. That is no new thing, sayeth he, seeing they slew Christ himself and his Prophets, and have banished me also.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:15 He foretelleth the utter destruction of the Jews, lest any man should be moved by their rebellion.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:15 For the Jews would neither enter into the kingdom of God themselves, nor suffer others to enter in.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:16 Until the wickedness of theirs which they have by inheritance as it were of their fathers, be grown so great that the measure of their iniquity being filled, God may come forth to wrath.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:16 The judgments of God being angry, which indeed appeared shortly after in the destruction of the city of Jerusalem, whither many resorted even out of divers provinces, when it was besieged.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:17 He meeteth with an objection, why he came not to them straightway being in so great misery, I desired oftentimes (saith he) and it lay not in me, but Satan hindered my endeavors, and therefore I sent Timothy my faithful companion unto you, because you are most dear to me.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:17 Were kept asunder from you, and as it were orphans.
1 Thessalonians 2
Authorized (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 Judæa 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.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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