1 Thessalonians 1-2
English Standard Version
Greeting
1 Paul, (A)Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the (B)Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
(C)Grace to you and peace.
The Thessalonians' Faith and Example
2 (D)We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly[a] (E)mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before (F)our God and Father (G)your work of faith and labor of (H)love and (I)steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, (J)brothers[b] loved by God, (K)that he has chosen you, 5 because (L)our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and (M)in the Holy Spirit and with full (N)conviction. You know (O)what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And (P)you became imitators of us (Q)and of the Lord, for (R)you received the word in much affliction, (S)with the (T)joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For not only has the word of the Lord (U)sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth (V)everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of (W)reception we had among you, and how (X)you turned to God (Y)from idols to serve the living and (Z)true God, 10 and (AA)to wait for his Son (AB)from heaven, (AC)whom he raised from the dead, Jesus (AD)who delivers us from (AE)the wrath to come.
Paul's Ministry to the Thessalonians
2 For you yourselves know, brothers,[c] that our (AF)coming to you (AG)was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated (AH)at Philippi, as you know, (AI)we had boldness in our God (AJ)to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much (AK)conflict. 3 For (AL)our appeal does not spring from (AM)error or (AN)impurity or (AO)any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God (AP)to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not (AQ)to please man, but to please God (AR)who tests our hearts. 5 (AS)For we never came with words of flattery,[d] as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—(AT)God is witness. 6 (AU)Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, (AV)though we could have made (AW)demands as (AX)apostles of Christ. 7 But we were (AY)gentle[e] among you, (AZ)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 (BA)but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
9 For you remember, brothers, (BB)our labor and toil: we (BC)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 (BD)God also, (BE)how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11 For you know how, (BF)like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and (BG)charged (BH)you to walk in a manner worthy of God, (BI)who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
13 And (BJ)we also thank God constantly[f] for this, that when you received (BK)the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it (BL)not as the word of men[g] but as what it really is, the word of God, (BM)which is at work in you believers. 14 For you, brothers, (BN)became imitators of (BO)the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For (BP)you suffered the same things from your own countrymen (BQ)as they did from the Jews,[h] 15 (BR)who killed both the Lord Jesus and (BS)the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and (BT)oppose all mankind 16 (BU)by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always (BV)to fill up the measure of their sins. But (BW)wrath has come upon them at last![i]
Paul's Longing to See Them Again
17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, (BX)in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire (BY)to see you face to face, 18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan (BZ)hindered us. 19 For what is our hope or (CA)joy or crown of boasting (CB)before our Lord Jesus at his (CC)coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
Footnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 1:2 Or without ceasing
- 1 Thessalonians 1:4 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters
- 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
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.