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For, brethren, ye know our entry to you, for it was not vain;

but first we suffered, and were punished with wrongs, as ye know in Philippi, and had trust in our Lord [we had trust in the Lord], to speak to you the gospel of God in much busyness.

And our exhortation is not of error [Soothly our exhortation, or teaching, was not of error], neither of uncleanness, neither in guile,

but as we be approved of God, that the gospel of God should be taken to us [but as we be proved of God, that the gospel should be taken to us], so we speak; not as pleasing to men, but to God that proveth our hearts.

For neither we were any time in word of glossing [Forsooth neither we were any time in word of flattering], as ye know, neither in occasion of avarice; God is witness;

neither seeking glory of men, neither of you, neither of others, when we, as Christ's apostles, might have been in charge to you [when we might have been chargeous to you, as Christ's apostles].

But we were made little in the middle of you, as if a nurse foster her sons;

so we desiring you with great love, would have betaken to you, not only the gospel of God, but also our lives [so we desiring you covetingly, or with great love, would betake to you, not only the gospel of God, but also our souls, or lives], for ye be made most dear-worthy to us.

For, brethren, ye be mindful of our travail and weariness; we worked night and day, that we should not grieve any of you, and preached to you the gospel of God[a].

10 God and ye be witnesses, how holily, and justly, and without plaint, we were to you that believed. [Ye be witnesses, and God, how holily, and justly, and without quarrel, or plaint, we were to you that believed.]

11 As ye know, how we prayed you, and comforted each of you, as the father his sons,

12 and we have witnessed, that ye should go worthily to God, that called you into his kingdom and glory.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 2:9 night and day working, that we should not grieve any of you, we preached to you the evangel of God

Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you(A) was not without results.(B) We 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) For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives,(F) nor are we trying to trick you.(G) On 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) You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed(K)—God is our witness.(L) We 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) Instead, we were like young children[a] among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,(P) so 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) Surely 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. 10 You are witnesses,(U) and so is God,(V) of how holy,(W) righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,(X) 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy(Y) of God, who calls(Z) you into his kingdom and glory.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Some manuscripts were gentle