1 Thessalonians 2:13-20

New Testament for Everyone

The persecuted church

¹³ So, therefore, we thank God constantly that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it, not as the word of a mere human being but—as it really is!—the word of God which is at work in you believers. ¹⁴ For, my dear family, you came to copy God’s assemblies in Judaea in the Messiah, Jesus. You suffered the same things from your own people as they did from those of the Judaeans ¹⁵ who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and who expelled us. They displease God; they oppose all people; ¹⁶ they forbid us to speak to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. This has had the effect, all along, of completing the full total of their sins. But the fury has come upon them for good.

Paul’s joy and crown

¹⁷ As for us, my dear family, we were snatched away from you for a short time, in person though not in heart. We longed eagerly, with a great desire, to see you face to face. ¹⁸ That’s why we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but the satan got in our way.

¹⁹ Don’t you see? When our Lord Jesus is present once more, what is our hope, our joy, the crown of our boasting before him? It’s you! ²⁰ Yes: you are our glory and our joy.