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.