1 Thessalonians 1:1–2:20
1 Paul, Silvanus,* a and Timothy:b
To the church of the Thessaloniansc in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace to you and peace.B
2 We always thank God for all of you, making mention of you constantly in our prayers. 3 We recall, in the presence of our God and Father,d your work produced by faith,e your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.f 4 For we know, brothers and sisters lovedg by God,h that he has chosen you,i 5 because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit,j and with full assurance. You know how we lived among youk for your benefit, 6 and you yourselves became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the messagel with joy from the Holy Spirit. 7 As a result, you became an example to all the believers in Macedoniam and Achaia.n 8 For the word of the Lord rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faithC,o in God has gone out. Therefore, we don’t need to say anything, 9 for they themselves reportD what kind of receptionp we had from you: how you turnedq to God from idolsr to serve the livings and truet God 10 and to waitu for his Sonv from heaven, whom he raised from the deadw—Jesus, who rescues usx from the coming wrath.y
2 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our visitz with you was not without result. 2 On the contrary, after we had previously sufferedaa and were treated outrageously in Philippi,ab as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition. 3 For our exhortation didn’t come from error or impurityac or an intent to deceive.ad 4 Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrustedae with the gospel,af so we speak, not to please people, but rather God,ag who examines our hearts.ah 5 For we never used flattering speech, as you know, or had greedyai motivesaj—God is our witnessak—6 and we didn’t seek gloryal from people, either from you or from others. 7 Although we could have been a burden as Christ’s apostles,am instead we were gentleE among you, as a nurseF nurtures her own children. 8 We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9 For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers and sisters. Workingan night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God’s gospel to you. 10 You are witnesses,ao and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously,ap and blamelesslyaq we conducted ourselves with you believers. 11 As you know, like a father with his own children,ar 12 we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God,as who calls you into his own kingdomat and glory.au
RECEPTION AND OPPOSITION TO THE MESSAGE
13 This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is,av the word of God,aw which also works effectively in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea,ax since you have also suffereday the same things from people of your own country,az just as they did from the Jews 15 who killed the Lord Jesusba and the prophets and persecuted us.bb They displease God and are hostile to everyone, 16 by keeping us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. As a result, they are constantly filling up their sins to the limit,bc and wrath has overtaken them at last.G
17 But as for us, brothers and sisters, after we were forced to leave youA for a short time (in person, not in hearta), we greatly desired and made every effort to returnb and see you face to face. 18 So we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satanc hindered us. 19 For who is our hope or joyd or crowne of boastingf in the presence of our Lordg Jesus at his coming?h Is it not you?i 20 Indeed you are our gloryj and joy!