13 For this reason we also constantly (A)thank God that when you received the (B)word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it (C)not as the word of mere men, but as what it really is, the word of God, (D)which also is at work in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers and sisters, became (E)imitators of (F)the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are (G)in Judea, for (H)you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, (I)even as they did from the Jews, 15 (J)who both killed the Lord Jesus and (K)the prophets, and [a]drove us out. [b]They are not pleasing to God, [c]but hostile to all people, 16 (L)hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles (M)so that they may be saved; with the result that they always [d](N)reach the limit of their sins. But (O)wrath has come upon them [e]fully.

17 But we, brothers and sisters, having been orphaned from you by absence for a [f]short while—(P)in [g]person, not in [h]spirit—were all the more eager with great desire (Q)to see your face. 18 [i]For (R)we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, [j](S)more than once—and (T)Satan (U)hindered us. 19 For who is our hope, or (V)joy or crown of pride, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His [k](W)coming? Or is it not indeed you? 20 For you are (X)our glory and joy.

Encouragement of Timothy’s Visit

Therefore, (Y)when we could no longer endure it, we thought it best to be left behind, alone at (Z)Athens, and we sent (AA)Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you for the benefit of your faith, so that no one would be [l]disturbed by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that (AB)we have been destined for this. For even when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; [m](AC)and so it happened, [n]as you know. For this reason, (AD)when I could no longer endure it, I also (AE)sent to [o]find out about your faith, for fear that (AF)the tempter might have tempted you, and (AG)our labor would be for nothing.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 2:15 Or persecuted us
  2. 1 Thessalonians 2:15 Lit and
  3. 1 Thessalonians 2:15 Lit and
  4. 1 Thessalonians 2:16 Lit complete their
  5. 1 Thessalonians 2:16 Or forever; lit to the end
  6. 1 Thessalonians 2:17 Lit occasion of an hour
  7. 1 Thessalonians 2:17 Lit face
  8. 1 Thessalonians 2:17 Lit heart
  9. 1 Thessalonians 2:18 Or Because
  10. 1 Thessalonians 2:18 Lit both once and twice
  11. 1 Thessalonians 2:19 Or presence
  12. 1 Thessalonians 3:3 Or deceived
  13. 1 Thessalonians 3:4 Lit just as
  14. 1 Thessalonians 3:4 Lit and
  15. 1 Thessalonians 3:5 Or to know, to ascertain

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