1 Thessalonians 2
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 2
Paul’s Loving Treatment of the Thessalonians.[a] 1 You yourselves are well aware, brethren, that our visit to you has not been in vain. 2 Although we had suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you surely recall, God gave us the courage to declare the gospel of God to you despite great opposition.
3 The exhortation we impart does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery. 4 God has judged us worthy to be entrusted with the gospel. Therefore, when we speak, our intention is not to please human beings but to please God who tests our hearts.
5 As you are also aware, and as God is our witness, we have never resorted to flattering words or to your sense of greed. 6 Neither did we seek praise from human beings, whether from you or from others.
7 As apostles of Christ, we could have imposed our will on you,[b] yet we were as gentle in our treatment of you as a mother nursing and caring for her own children. 8 Our affection for you was so great that we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our very lives, because you had become so dear to us.
9 You surely remember, brethren, our toil and drudgery as we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, as is God, that our treatment of you who believed has been devout, upright, and blameless.
11 As you are well aware, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children, 12 urging and encouraging you and pleading with you to lead lives worthy of God who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
13 The Word of God Is at Work.[c] We also unceasingly give thanks to God because, when we handed on the word of God to you, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it truly is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. 14 Indeed, brethren, you have become imitators of the Churches of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you have suffered the same treatment from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the Prophets and also persecuted us.
They displease God and have become enemies of the entire human race 16 by trying to prevent us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way, they constantly reach the full measure of their sins. The wrath of God has begun to overtake them at last.
17 The Glory and Joy of the Apostles.[d] Brethren, when we were separated from you for a brief time—in body but not in heart—we had an intense longing to see you again face to face. 18 Therefore, we were determined to come to visit you—I, Paul, on more than one occasion—but Satan thwarted us.[e] 19 For what is our hope or our joy or our crown of honor in the presence of our Lord Jesus upon his return? Is it not you yourselves? 20 You truly are our glory and our joy.[f]
Footnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 2:1 In the quest for disciples, fame, and profit, the teachers of thought and of religion seek to found schools in this city where all currents came together at the time. Paul sketches for himself another portrait, that of messenger of Christ. Fearlessness, openness, and authenticity are the mark of the apostle seized by the Gospel. The missionary fervor takes root in God and in Jesus Christ and transforms human hearts. It then creates ties that are as strong as those of parenthood.
Paul always wanted to combine evangelization with manual work; this was doubtless to earn his own living and not be a burden on anyone, but also to reach out to human beings where they were living their lives (see Acts 20:33-35; 2 Cor 11:7-20; 12:13-18; 2 Thes 3:7-9). But he was also able to devote himself entirely to preaching (see Acts 18:3-5). - 1 Thessalonians 2:7 We could have imposed our will on you: another possible translation is: “we could have been a burden to you.” It was accepted among the early Christians that apostles are entitled to the support of the Churches (see 1 Cor 9:3-14; 2 Cor 11:7-11). Paul insisted on this right although he did not always make use of it.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:13 It is the Word of God that is at work in the preaching of the apostles. Heard and accepted, then recognized as coming from God, it deploys its energy in the life of human beings. It prompts pagan converts to imitate Christ with the same ardor possessed by Christians of the mother Church of Jerusalem. Hence, the converts are not second-class believers. The beautiful title “you who believe” immediately designated those who accepted the Gospel.
We are amazed by the violent indictment leveled by Paul at his compatriots, for on several occasions he states his pride in belonging to the Jewish people (see 2 Cor 11:22; Phil 3:4-6) and proclaims his love for his racial brothers and sisters (see Rom 9:3-5; 10:2—11:2). His reaction here flows from the persecution that the Jewish colony carried out against him at each stage of his mission, whereas in his view the people of the Promise should discover in the Gospel the fulfillment of their historic mission.
Paul reprises the vehement diatribe of the Prophets against the blindness of the chosen people and calls down the wrath of God and his judgment (see 1 Thes 1:10). This threat is addressed against all who oppose the call of salvation that awaits them (see Rom 2:8) and especially against those who hinder others from responding to that call. When Paul paints a picture of the pagan life, he gives hardly more than a nuance of it. Hence, this passage cannot be used to justify any anti-Semitism (see Rom 1:18-22). - 1 Thessalonians 2:17 Paul perceives the hand of Satan—i.e., the forces hostile to God and to the fulfillment of human beings—behind everything that paralyzes his missionary action.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:18 But Satan thwarted us: we do not know how this occurred. Concerning Satan as enemy of the Gospel, (see Rom 16:20; 1 Cor 7:5; 2 Cor 11:14; Eph 6:11-13; 1 Tim 3:6). Hence, he has already been defeated (see Col 2:15), and Christians should not feel overwhelmed by him (see Eph 6:16). His final overthrow is certain (Rev 20:10).
- 1 Thessalonians 2:20 You truly are our glory and our joy: this is true now (see Phil 4:1) as well as at the Second Coming of the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 2
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
Paul’s Conduct
2 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our visit(A) with you was not without result. 2 On the contrary, after we had previously suffered(B) and were treated outrageously in Philippi,(C) as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition. 3 For our exhortation didn’t come from error or impurity(D) or an intent to deceive.(E) 4 Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted(F) with the gospel,(G) so we speak, not to please people, but rather God,(H) who examines our hearts.(I) 5 For we never used flattering speech, as you know, or had greedy(J) motives(K) – God is our witness(L) – 6 and we didn’t seek glory(M) from people, either from you or from others. 7 Although we could have been a burden as Christ’s apostles,(N) instead we were gentle[a] among you, as a nursing mother nurtures her own children. 8 We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9 For you remember our labour and hardship, brothers and sisters. Working(O) night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God’s gospel to you. 10 You are witnesses,(P) and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously,(Q) and blamelessly(R) we conducted ourselves with you believers. 11 As you know, like a father with his own children,(S) 12 we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God,(T) who calls you into his own kingdom(U) and glory.(V)
Reception and Opposition to the Message
13 This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is,(W) the word of God,(X) which also works effectively in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea,(Y) since you have also suffered(Z) the same things from people of your own country,(AA) just as they did from the Jews 15 who killed the Lord Jesus(AB) and the prophets and persecuted us.(AC) They displease God and are hostile to everyone, 16 by keeping us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. As a result, they are constantly filling up their sins to the limit,(AD) and wrath has overtaken them at last.[b]
Paul’s Desire to See Them
17 But as for us, brothers and sisters, after we were forced to leave you[c] for a short time (in person, not in heart(AE)), we greatly desired and made every effort to return(AF) and see you face to face. 18 So we wanted to come to you – even I, Paul, time and again – but Satan(AG) hindered us. 19 For who is our hope or joy(AH) or crown(AI) of boasting(AJ) in the presence of our Lord(AK) Jesus at his coming?(AL) Is it not you?(AM) 20 Indeed you are our glory(AN) and joy!
1 Thessalonians 2
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
II. Previous Relations with the Thessalonians
Chapter 2
Paul’s Ministry Among Them. 1 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our reception among you was not without effect. 2 Rather, after we had suffered and been insolently treated, as you know, in Philippi, we drew courage through our God to speak to you the gospel of God with much struggle.(A) 3 Our exhortation was not from delusion or impure motives, nor did it work through deception. 4 But as we were judged worthy[a] by God to be entrusted with the gospel, that is how we speak, not as trying to please human beings, but rather God, who judges our hearts.(B) 5 Nor, indeed, did we ever appear with flattering speech, as you know, or with a pretext for greed—God is witness— 6 nor did we seek praise from human beings, either from you or from others,(C) 7 although we were able to impose our weight as apostles of Christ. Rather, we were gentle[b] among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children. 8 With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us. 9 You recall, brothers, our toil and drudgery. Working night and day in order not to burden any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.(D) 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers. 11 As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children,(E) 12 exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you conduct yourselves as worthy of the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory.(F)
Further Thanksgiving. 13 And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly, that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us, you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the word of God, which is now at work in you who believe. 14 [c]For you, brothers, have become imitators of the churches of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you suffer the same things from your compatriots as they did from the Jews, 15 [d]who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us; they do not please God, and are opposed to everyone,(G) 16 trying to prevent us from speaking to the Gentiles that they may be saved, thus constantly filling up the measure of their sins. But the wrath of God has finally begun to come upon them.(H)
Paul’s Recent Travel Plans. 17 Brothers, when we were bereft of you for a short time, in person, not in heart, we were all the more eager in our great desire to see you in person.(I) 18 We decided to go to you—I, Paul, not only once but more than once—yet Satan thwarted us.(J) 19 For what is our hope or joy or crown to boast of in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming if not you yourselves?(K) 20 For you are our glory and joy.
Footnotes
- 2:4 Judged worthy: Paul regards “worthiness” not as grounded in one’s own talent or moral self-righteousness but in God’s discernment of genuinely selfless attitudes and actions (see 2 Cor 10:17–18).
- 2:7 Gentle: many excellent manuscripts read “infants” (nēpioi), but “gentle” (ēpioi) better suits the context here.
- 2:14 Luke’s picture of the persecutions at Philippi (by Gentiles) and in Thessalonica and Beroea (by Jews) seems to be considerably schematized (Acts 16:11–40; 17:1–15). Paul pictures the Thessalonian community as composed of converts from paganism (1 Thes 1:9) and speaks here of persecution by their (pagan) compatriots rather than by Jews.
- 2:15–16 Paul is speaking of historical opposition on the part of Palestinian Jews in particular and does so only some twenty years after Jesus’ crucifixion. Even so, he quickly proceeds to depict the persecutors typologically, in apocalyptic terms. His remarks give no grounds for anti-Semitism to those willing to understand him, especially in view of Paul’s pride in his own ethnic and religious background (Rom 9:1–5; 10:1; 11:1–3; Phil 3:4–6). Sinful conduct (1 Thes 2:16) is itself an anticipation of the ultimate wrath or judgment of God (Rom 1:18–2:5), whether or not it is perceived as such.
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