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Paul Remembers His Visit

You yourselves know, dear brothers and sisters,[a] that our visit to you was not a failure. You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition. So you can see we were not preaching with any deceit or impure motives or trickery.

For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money! As for human praise, we have never sought it from you or anyone else.

As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children[b] among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children. We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.

Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God’s Good News to you. 10 You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers. 11 And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children. 12 We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.

13 Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.

14 And then, dear brothers and sisters, you suffered persecution from your own countrymen. In this way, you imitated the believers in God’s churches in Judea who, because of their belief in Christ Jesus, suffered from their own people, the Jews. 15 For some of the Jews killed the prophets, and some even killed the Lord Jesus. Now they have persecuted us, too. They fail to please God and work against all humanity 16 as they try to keep us from preaching the Good News of salvation to the Gentiles. By doing this, they continue to pile up their sins. But the anger of God has caught up with them at last.

Timothy’s Good Report about the Church

17 Dear brothers and sisters, after we were separated from you for a little while (though our hearts never left you), we tried very hard to come back because of our intense longing to see you again. 18 We wanted very much to come to you, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us. 19 After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you! 20 Yes, you are our pride and joy.

Footnotes

  1. 2:1 Greek brothers; also in 2:9, 14, 17.
  2. 2:7 Some manuscripts read we were gentle.

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.

13 And 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. 14 For 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 15 who killed the Lord Jesus(AF) and the prophets(AG) and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone 16 in 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

17 But, 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) 18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan(AL) blocked our way.(AM) 19 For 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? 20 Indeed, you are our glory(AQ) and joy.

Footnotes

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

Comportamiento de Pablo como ministro de Jesucristo

Porque vosotros mismos sabéis, hermanos, que nuestra visita[a] a vosotros(A) no fue en vano(B), sino que después de haber sufrido y sido maltratados(C) en Filipos(D), como sabéis, tuvimos el valor, confiados en nuestro Dios, de hablaros(E) el evangelio de Dios(F) en medio de mucha oposición[b](G). Pues nuestra exhortación(H) no procede de error(I) ni de impureza(J) ni es con engaño(K); sino que así como hemos sido aprobados por Dios(L) para que se nos confiara el evangelio(M), así hablamos, no como agradando a los hombres, sino a Dios(N) que examina[c] nuestros corazones(O). Porque como sabéis, nunca fuimos[d] a vosotros con palabras lisonjeras, ni con pretexto para lucrar(P), Dios es testigo(Q), ni buscando gloria de los hombres(R), ni de vosotros ni de otros, aunque como apóstoles de Cristo hubiéramos podido imponer nuestra autoridad[e](S). Más bien demostramos ser[f] benignos[g](T) entre[h] vosotros, como una madre que cría con ternura a sus propios hijos(U). Teniendo así un gran afecto por vosotros, nos hemos complacido en impartiros(V) no solo el evangelio de Dios(W), sino también nuestras propias vidas[i], pues llegasteis a sernos muy amados. Porque recordáis, hermanos, nuestros trabajos y fatigas(X), cómo, trabajando de día y de noche(Y) para no ser carga(Z) a ninguno de vosotros, os proclamamos el evangelio de Dios(AA). 10 Vosotros sois testigos, y también Dios(AB), de cuán santa, justa e irreprensiblemente nos comportamos[j] con vosotros(AC) los creyentes; 11 así como sabéis de qué manera os exhortábamos(AD), alentábamos e implorábamos[k] a cada uno de vosotros(AE), como un padre lo haría con sus propios hijos(AF), 12 para que anduvierais como es digno(AG) del Dios que os ha llamado[l] a su reino(AH) y a su gloria(AI).

Pablo da gracias por los tesalonicenses

13 Por esto también nosotros sin cesar damos gracias a Dios(AJ) de que cuando recibisteis la palabra de Dios(AK), que oísteis de nosotros la aceptasteis no como la palabra de hombres, sino como lo que realmente es, la palabra de Dios(AL), la cual también hace su obra(AM) en vosotros los que creéis. 14 Pues vosotros, hermanos, vinisteis a ser imitadores(AN) de las iglesias de Dios en Cristo Jesús(AO) que están en Judea(AP), porque también vosotros padecisteis los mismos sufrimientos a manos de vuestros propios compatriotas(AQ), tal como ellos padecieron a manos de los judíos(AR), 15 los cuales mataron tanto al Señor Jesús(AS) como a los profetas(AT), y a nosotros nos expulsaron[m], y no agradan a Dios sino que[n] son contrarios a todos los hombres, 16 impidiéndonos[o] hablar a los gentiles(AU) para que se salven(AV), con el resultado de que siempre llenan la medida de sus pecados(AW). Pero la ira(AX) ha venido sobre ellos hasta el extremo[p].

17 Pero nosotros, hermanos, separados de vosotros por breve tiempo[q], en persona[r] pero no en espíritu[s](AY), estábamos muy ansiosos, con profundo deseo de ver vuestro rostro(AZ). 18 Ya que queríamos ir a vosotros(BA) (al menos yo, Pablo, más de una vez[t](BB)) pero Satanás(BC) nos lo ha impedido(BD). 19 Porque ¿quién es nuestra esperanza o gozo o corona de gloria(BE)? ¿No lo sois vosotros en la presencia de nuestro Señor Jesús en su venida[u](BF)? 20 Pues vosotros sois nuestra gloria(BG) y nuestro gozo.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Tesalonicenses 2:1 Lit., entrada
  2. 1 Tesalonicenses 2:2 O, lucha, o, mucho conflicto
  3. 1 Tesalonicenses 2:4 O, aprueba
  4. 1 Tesalonicenses 2:5 Lit., nos presentamos
  5. 1 Tesalonicenses 2:6 O, ser carga
  6. 1 Tesalonicenses 2:7 Lit., nos hicimos
  7. 1 Tesalonicenses 2:7 Algunos mss. antiguos dicen: niños
  8. 1 Tesalonicenses 2:7 Lit., en medio de
  9. 1 Tesalonicenses 2:8 O, almas
  10. 1 Tesalonicenses 2:10 Lit., hicimos
  11. 1 Tesalonicenses 2:11 O, testificábamos
  12. 1 Tesalonicenses 2:12 O, llama
  13. 1 Tesalonicenses 2:15 O, nos persiguieron
  14. 1 Tesalonicenses 2:15 Lit., y
  15. 1 Tesalonicenses 2:16 O, tratando de impedirnos; lit., prohibiéndonos
  16. 1 Tesalonicenses 2:16 O, para siempre, o, del todo
  17. 1 Tesalonicenses 2:17 Lit., por espacio de una hora
  18. 1 Tesalonicenses 2:17 Lit., rostro
  19. 1 Tesalonicenses 2:17 Lit., corazón
  20. 1 Tesalonicenses 2:18 Lit., tanto una vez como dos
  21. 1 Tesalonicenses 2:19 O, presencia