1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Expanded Bible
Paul’s Work in Thessalonica
2 Brothers and sisters, you ·know [yourselves know; are well aware that] our ·visit [coming] to you was not ·a failure [without results; in vain; Acts 17:1–9]. 2 Before we came to you, we suffered and were ·insulted [mistreated] in Philippi [C a city in Macedonia (1:7); Acts 16:6–40], as you know. But ·our God helped us to be brave and [L we were emboldened in our God] to tell you ·his Good News [the Gospel of God] in spite of great opposition. 3 [L For] Our ·appeal [encouragement; exhortation] does not come from ·lies [error] or ·wrong reasons [false motives; L impurity], nor ·were we trying to trick you [with guile/deceit]. 4 But we speak the ·Good News [Gospel] because God ·tested [approved] us and ·trusted us to do [or entrusted us with] it. When we speak, we are not trying to please people, but God, who ·tests [examines; approves] our hearts. 5 You know that we never ·tried to influence you by saying nice things about you [L came with words of flattery]. ·We were not trying to get your money; we had no selfishness to hide from you [L …nor with hidden motives of greed]. God ·knows that this is true [L is (our) witness]. 6 We were not looking for human ·praise [glory], from you or anyone else, 7 even though as apostles of Christ we could have ·used our authority over you [thrown our weight around; exercised our prerogatives].
But we were very gentle with you,[a] like a ·mother [nurse; nursing mother] caring for her [L own] little children. 8 Because we ·loved [had such affection for/devotion to] you, we were ·happy [pleased; delighted] to share not only God’s ·Good News [Gospel] with you, but ·even [also] our own lives. You had become so ·dear [beloved] to us! 9 Brothers and sisters, ·I know [surely] you remember our hard work and ·difficulties [hardship; labor]. We worked night and day so we would not burden any of you while we preached God’s ·Good News [Gospel] to you.
10 When we were with you, we lived in a holy and ·honest [righteous; just] way, ·without fault [blameless; innocent]. You ·know this is true, and so does [L are witnesses, and so is] God. 11 You know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children. 12 We ·encouraged [exhorted; urged] you, we ·urged [encouraged; comforted] you, and we ·insisted [appealed/bore witness to you] that you ·live good lives for [L walk worthy of] God, who calls you to his ·glorious kingdom [L kingdom and glory].
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 2:7 But … you Some Greek copies read “But we were like infants among you.”
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Amplified Bible
Paul’s Ministry
2 For you know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you has not been ineffective (fruitless, in vain), 2 but after we had already suffered and been outrageously treated in Philippi, as you know, yet in [the strength of] our God we summoned the courage to proclaim boldly to you the good news of God [regarding salvation] amid great opposition. 3 For our appeal does not come from delusion or impure motives, nor [is it motivated] by deceit [our message is complete, accurate, and based on the truth—it does not change]. 4 But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel [that tells the good news of salvation through faith in Christ], so we speak, not as [if we were trying] to please people [to gain power and popularity], but to please God who examines our hearts [expecting our best]. 5 For as you well know, we never came with words of flattery nor with a pretext for greed—God is our witness— 6 nor did we seek glory and honor from people, neither from you nor from anyone else, though as apostles of Christ we had the power to assert our authority. 7 But we behaved gently when we were among you, like a devoted mother tenderly caring for her own children. 8 Having such a deep affection for you, we [a]were delighted to share with you not only God’s good news but also our own lives, because you had become so very dear to us.
9 For you remember, [b]believers, our labor and hardship. We worked night and day [practicing our trade] in order not to be a [financial] burden to any of you while we proclaimed the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, how unworldly and just and blameless was our behavior toward you who believe [in our Lord Jesus Christ]. 11 For you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you just as a father does [in dealing with] his own children, [guiding you] 12 to live lives [of honor, moral courage, and personal integrity] worthy of the God who [saves you and] calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 2:8 Or resolved to.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:9 Lit brethren.
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