1 Thessalonians 2:13-20

Contemporary English Version

¹³ We always thank God that you believed the message we preached. It came from him, and it isn't something made up by humans. You accepted it as God's message, and now he is working in you. ^14 (A) My friends, you did just like God's churches in Judea and like the other followers of Christ Jesus there. And so, you were mistreated by your own people, in the same way they were mistreated by their people.

^15 (B) Those evil people killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and they even chased us away. God doesn't like what they do and neither does anyone else. ¹⁶ They keep us from speaking his message to the Gentiles and from leading them to be saved. They have always gone too far with their sins. Now God has finally become angry and will punish them.

Paul Wants To Visit the Church Again

¹⁷ My friends, we were kept from coming to you for a while, but we never stopped thinking about you. We were eager to see you and tried our best to visit you in person. ¹⁸ We really wanted to come. I myself tried several times, but Satan always stopped us. ¹⁹ After all, when the Lord Jesus appears, who else but you will give us hope and joy and be like a glorious crown for us? ²⁰ You alone are our glory and joy!