1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Wycliffe Bible
2 For, brethren, ye know our entry to you, for it was not vain;
2 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.
3 And our exhortation is not of error [Soothly our exhortation, or teaching, was not of error], neither of uncleanness, neither in guile,
4 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.
5 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;
6 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].
7 But we were made little in the middle of you, as if a nurse foster her sons;
8 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.
9 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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- 1 Thessalonians 2:9 night and day working, that we should not grieve any of you, we preached to you the evangel of God
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
New Matthew Bible
Paul reminds them of the godly life he led among them when he preached the gospel to them, thanks God that they receive his word so fruitfully, and excuses his absence.
2 For you yourselves know, brethren, of our coming to you, how it was not in vain. 2 But even after we had suffered before, and were shamefully treated at Philippi (as you well know), then we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God with much striving. 3 Our exhortation was not to bring you to error, nor yet to uncleanness. Neither was it with guile, 4 but as we were approved by God to have the gospel committed to us, even so we speak – not as though we intended to please men, but God, who tries our hearts.
5 Neither was our conversation at any time with flattering words, as you well know, nor in cloaked covetousness; God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek praise from men: not from you, nor yet from any others, when we might have imposed ourselves upon you as the apostles of Christ. 7 But we were tender among you. Even as a nurse-mother cares for her children, 8 so was our affection toward you. Our good pleasure was to have given you not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because you were dear to us.
9 You remember, brethren, our labour and travail. For we laboured day and night because we did not want to be burdensome to any of you, and preached to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, how holily and justly and blamelessly we conducted ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted and comforted and besought every one of you, as a father his children, 12 to walk worthy of God, who has called you unto his kingdom and glory.
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1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
1599 Geneva Bible
2 1 He declareth how faithfully he preacheth the Gospel unto them, 5 seeking neither gain, 6 nor praise of men: 10 and he proveth the same by their own testimony: 14 that they did courageously bear persecution of their countrymen: 17 that he desireth very much to see them.
1 For [a]ye yourselves know, brethren, that our entrance in unto you was not in vain,
2 [b]But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated at (A)Philippi, (as ye know) we were bold in [c]our God, to speak unto you the Gospel of God, with much striving.
3 [d]For our exhortation was not by deceit, nor [e]by uncleanness, nor by guile.
4 [f]But as we were [g]allowed of God, that the Gospel should be committed unto us, so we speak, not as they that please men, but God, which [h]approveth our hearts:
5 Neither yet did we ever use flattering words, as ye know, nor colored covetousness, God is record.
6 [i]Neither sought we praise of men, neither of you, nor of others, when we might have been [j]chargeable, as the Apostles of Christ.
7 But we were [k]gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children.
8 [l]Thus being affectioned toward you, our good will was to have dealt unto you, not the Gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
9 [m]For ye remember, brethren, (B)our labor and travail: for we labored day and night, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, and preached unto you the Gospel of God.
10 [n]Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe.
11 [o]As ye know how that we exhorted you, and comforted, and besought every one of you, (as a father his children.)
12 [p]That ye (C)would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
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- 1 Thessalonians 2:1 That which he touched before shortly concerning his Apostleship, he handleth now more at large, and to that end and purpose which we spake of.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:2 The virtues of a true Pastor are freely, and without fear to preach the Gospel, even in the midst of dangers.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:2 Through God his gracious help.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:3 To teach pure doctrine faithfully and with a pure heart.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:3 By any wicked and naughty kind of dealing.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:4 To approve his conscience to God, being free from all flattery and covetousness.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:4 Seeing there is this difference between the judgments of God and the judgments of men, that when men choose, they respect the qualities of those things which stand before them, but God findeth the reason of his counsel only in himself, it followeth, that seeing we are not able to think a good thought, that whomsoever he first chooseth to those holy callings, he maketh them able, and doth not find them able. And therefore in that we are allowed of God, it hangeth upon his mercy.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:4 Which liketh and alloweth them.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:6 To submit himself even to the basest, to win them, and to eschew all pride.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:6 When I might lawfully have lived upon the expenses of the Church.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:7 We were not rough, but easy, and gentle, as a nurse that is neither ambitious nor covetous, but taketh all pains as patiently, as if she were a mother.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:8 To have the flock that is committed unto him in more estimation than his own life.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:9 To depart with his own rights rather than to be chargeable to his sheep.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:10 To excel others in example of godly life.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:11 To exhort and comfort with a fatherly mind and affection.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:12 To exhort all men diligently and earnestly to lead a godly life.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Authorized (King James) Version
2 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: 2 but even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. 3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 4 but as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: 6 nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: 8 so being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. 9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. 10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: 11 as ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 12 that ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
Read full chapter2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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