1 Thessalonians 2–3

2For yourselves, brethren, know our entering in unto you, that it hath not been found vain: ²but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as ye know, at Philippi, we waxed bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God in much conflict. ³For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: ⁴but even as we have been approved of God to be intrusted with the gospel, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God who proveth our hearts. ⁵For neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness, God is witness; ⁶nor seeking glory of men, neither from you nor from others, when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ. ⁷But we were gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherisheth her own children: ⁸even so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were well pleased to impart unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were become very dear to us. ⁹For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. ¹⁰Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and righteously and unblamably we behaved ourselves toward you that believe: ¹¹as ye know how we dealt with each one of you, as a father with his own children, exhorting you, and encouraging you, and testifying, ¹²to the end that ye should walk worthily of God, who calleth you into his own kingdom and glory.

¹³And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, even the word of God, ye accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe. ¹⁴For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judaea in Christ Jesus: for ye also suffered the same things of your own countrymen, even as they did of the Jews; ¹⁵who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove out us, and please not God, and are contrary to all men; ¹⁶forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always: but the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

¹⁷But we, brethren, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence not in heart, endeavored the more exceedingly to see your face with great desire: ¹⁸because we would fain have come unto you, I Paul once and again; and Satan hindered us. ¹⁹For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even ye, before our Lord Jesus at his coming? ²⁰For ye are our glory and our joy.

3Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone; ²and sent Timothy, our brother and God’s minister in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith; ³that no man be moved by these afflictions; for yourselves know that hereunto we are appointed. ⁴For verily, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction; even as it came to pass, and ye know. ⁵For this cause I also, when I could no longer forbear, sent that I might know your faith, lest by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor should be in vain. ⁶But when Timothy came even now unto us from you, and brought us glad tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, even as we also to see you; ⁷for this cause, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith: ⁸for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. ⁹For what thanksgiving can we render again unto God for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; ¹⁰night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

¹¹Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way unto you: ¹²and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we also do toward you; ¹³to the end he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.