1 Thessalonians 2

Darby Translation

2 For ye know yourselves, brethren, our entering in which [we had] to you, that it has not been in vain;

²but, having suffered before and been insulted, even as ye know, in Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the glad tidings of God with much earnest striving.

³For our exhortation [was] not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile;

⁴but even as we have been approved of God to have the glad tidings entrusted to us, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who proves our hearts.

⁵For we have not at any time been [among you] with flattering discourse, even as ye know, nor with a pretext for covetousness, God [is] witness;

⁶nor seeking glory from men, neither from you nor from others, when we might have been a charge as Christ's apostles;

⁷but have been gentle in the midst of you, as a nurse would cherish her own children.

⁸Thus, yearning over you, we had found our delight in having imparted to you not only the glad tidings of God, but our own lives also, because ye had become beloved of us.

⁹For ye remember, brethren, our labour and toil: working night and day, not to be chargeable to any one of you, we have preached to you the glad tidings of God.

¹⁰*Ye* [are] witnesses, and God, how piously and righteously and blamelessly we have conducted ourselves with you that believe:

¹¹as ye know how, as a father his own children, we used to exhort each one of you, and comfort and testify,

¹²that ye should walk worthy of God, who calls you to his own kingdom and glory.

¹³And for this cause we also give thanks to God unceasingly that, having received [the] word of [the] report of God by us, ye accepted, not men's word, but, even as it is truly, God's word, which also works in you who believe.

¹⁴For *ye*, brethren, have become imitators of the assemblies of God which are in Judaea in Christ Jesus; for *ye* also have suffered the same things of your own countrymen as also *they* of the Jews,

¹⁵who have both slain the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and have driven us out by persecution, and do not please God, and [are] against all men,

¹⁶forbidding us to speak to the nations that they may be saved, that they may fill up their sins always: but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.

¹⁷But we, brethren, having been bereaved of you and separated for a little moment in person, not in heart, have used more abundant diligence to see your face with much desire;

¹⁸wherefore we have desired to come to you, even I Paul, both once and twice, and Satan has hindered us.

¹⁹For what [is] our hope, or joy, or crown of boasting? [are] not *ye* also before our Lord Jesus at his coming?

²⁰for ye are our glory and joy.

1 Thessalonians 2

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Paul’s Conduct

2 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our visit^(A) with you was not without result. ²On the contrary, after we had previously suffered,^(B) and we 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. ³For our exhortation didn’t come from error or impurity^(D) or an intent to deceive.^(E) ⁴Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted^(F) with the gospel,^(G) so we speak, not to please men, but rather God,^(H) who examines our hearts.^(I) ⁵For we never used flattering speech, as you know, or had greedy^(J) motives^(K)—God is our witness^(L)— ⁶and we didn’t seek glory^(M) from people, either from you or from others. ⁷Although 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. ⁸We 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. ⁹For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers. Working^(O) night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God’s gospel to you. ¹⁰You are witnesses,^(P) and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously,^(Q) and blamelessly^(R) we conducted ourselves with you believers. ¹¹As you know, like a father with his own children,^(S) ¹²we 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

¹³This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the message about God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is,^(W) the message of God,^(X) which also works effectively in you believers. ¹⁴For you, brothers, 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 ¹⁵who killed both the Lord Jesus^(AB) and the prophets and persecuted us;^(AC) they displease God and are hostile to everyone, ¹⁶hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. As a result, they are always completing the number of their sins,^(AD) and wrath has overtaken them at last.^[b]

Paul’s Desire to See Them

¹⁷But as for us, brothers, after we were forced to leave you 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. ¹⁸So we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan^(AG) hindered us. ¹⁹For 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) ²⁰For you are our glory^(AN) and joy!

Footnotes

1 Thessalonians 2:7 Other mss read infants
1 Thessalonians 2:16 Or to the end

1 Thessalonians 2

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. ²But 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. ³For ^(G)our appeal does not spring from ^(H)error or ^(I)impurity or ^(J)any attempt to deceive, ⁴but 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. ⁷But we were ^(T)gentle^[c] among you, ^(U)like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. ⁸So, 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.

⁹For 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. ¹⁰You are witnesses, and ^(Y)God also, ^(Z)how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. ¹¹For you know how, ^(AA)like a father with his children, ¹²we 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.

¹³And ^(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. ¹⁴For 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

¹⁷But 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, ¹⁸because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan ^(AU)hindered us. ¹⁹For what is our hope or ^(AV)joy or crown of boasting ^(AW)before our Lord Jesus at his ^(AX)coming? Is it not you? ²⁰For you are our glory and joy.

Footnotes

1 Thessalonians 2:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 9, 14, 17
1 Thessalonians 2:5 Or with a flattering speech
1 Thessalonians 2:7 Some manuscripts infants
1 Thessalonians 2:13 Or without ceasing
1 Thessalonians 2:13 The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women
1 Thessalonians 2:14 The Greek word Ioudaioi can refer to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, who opposed the Christian faith in that time
1 Thessalonians 2:16 Or completely, or forever

1 Thessalonians 2

New International Version

Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

2 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you^(A) was not without results.^(B) ²We had previously suffered^(C) and been treated outrageously in Philippi,^(D) as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.^(E) ³For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives,^(F) nor are we trying to trick you.^(G) ⁴On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.^(H) We are not trying to please people^(I) but God, who tests our hearts.^(J) ⁵You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed^(K)—God is our witness.^(L) ⁶We were not looking for praise from people,^(M) not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles^(N) of Christ we could have asserted our authority.^(O) ⁷Instead, we were like young children^[a] among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,^(P) ⁸so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God^(Q) but our lives as well.^(R) ⁹Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked^(S) night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone^(T) while we preached the gospel of God to you. ¹⁰You are witnesses,^(U) and so is God,^(V) of how holy,^(W) righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. ¹¹For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,^(X) ¹²encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy^(Y) of God, who calls^(Z) you into his kingdom and glory.

¹³And we also thank God continually^(AA) because, when you received the word of God,^(AB) which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. ¹⁴For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators^(AC) of God’s churches in Judea,^(AD) which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people^(AE) the same things those churches suffered from the Jews ¹⁵who killed the Lord Jesus^(AF) and the prophets^(AG) and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone ¹⁶in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles^(AH) so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit.^(AI) The wrath of God has come upon them at last.^[b]

Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians

¹⁷But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought),^(AJ) out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.^(AK) ¹⁸For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan^(AL) blocked our way.^(AM) ¹⁹For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown^(AN) in which we will glory^(AO) in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?^(AP) Is it not you? ²⁰Indeed, you are our glory^(AQ) and joy.

Footnotes

1 Thessalonians 2:7 Some manuscripts were gentle
1 Thessalonians 2:16 Or them fully

Darby Translation (DARBY)

Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

English Standard Version (ESV)

New International Version (NIV)

1 Thessalonians 2

Darby Translation

1 Thessalonians 2

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Paul’s Conduct

Reception and Opposition to the Message

Paul’s Desire to See Them

Footnotes

Cross references

1 Thessalonians 2

English Standard Version

Paul's Ministry to the Thessalonians

Paul's Longing to See Them Again

Footnotes

Cross references

1 Thessalonians 2

New International Version

Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

1 Thessalonians 2 Darby Translation

1 Thessalonians 2 Holman Christian Standard Bible

Paul’s Conduct

Reception and Opposition to the Message

Paul’s Desire to See Them

Footnotes

Cross references

1 Thessalonians 2 English Standard Version

Paul's Ministry to the Thessalonians

Paul's Longing to See Them Again

Footnotes

Cross references

1 Thessalonians 2 New International Version

Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

1 Thessalonians 2

Darby Translation

1 Thessalonians 2

Holman Christian Standard Bible

1 Thessalonians 2

English Standard Version

1 Thessalonians 2

New International Version