1 Thessalonians 2–3

Paul’s Conduct

2For you yourselves know, brothers, that our visit ^dwith you was not without result. ²On the contrary, after we had previously suffered, ^eand we were treated outrageously in Philippi, ^fas you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition. ³For our exhortation didn’t come from error or impurity ^gor an intent to deceive. ^h4Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted ⁱwith the gospel, ^jso we speak, not to please men, but rather God, ^kwho examines our hearts. ^l5For we never used flattering speech, as you know, or had greedy ^mmotives ⁿ—God is our witness ^o— ⁶and we didn’t seek glory ^pfrom people, either from you or from others. ⁷Although we could have been a burden as Christ’s apostles, ^qinstead we were gentle ^ramong you, as a nursing mother nurtures her own children. ⁸We 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. ⁹For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers. Working ^snight and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God’s gospel to you. ¹⁰You are witnesses, ^tand so is God, of how devoutly, righteously, ^uand blamelessly ^vwe conducted ourselves with you believers. ¹¹As you know, like a father with his own children, ^w12we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God, ^xwho calls you into His own kingdom ^yand glory. ^z

Reception and Opposition to the Message

¹³This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the message about God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, ^athe message of God, ^bwhich also works effectively in you believers. ¹⁴For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, ^csince you have also suffered ^dthe same things from people of your own country, ^ejust as they did from the Jews ¹⁵who killed both the Lord Jesus ^fand the prophets and persecuted us; ^gthey displease God and are hostile to everyone, ¹⁶hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. As a result, they are always completing the number of their sins, ^hand wrath has overtaken them at last. ⁱ

Paul’s Desire to See Them

¹⁷But as for us, brothers, after we were forced to leave you for a short time (in person, not in heart ^j), we greatly desired and made every effort to return ^kand see you face to face. ¹⁸So we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan ^lhindered us. ¹⁹For who is our hope or joy ^mor crown ⁿof boasting ^oin the presence of our Lord ^pJesus at His coming? ^qIs it not you? ^r20For you are our glory ^sand joy!

Anxiety in Athens

3Therefore, when we could no longer stand it, we thought it was better to be left alone in Athens. ^t2And we sent Timothy, ^uour brother and God’s coworker ^vin the gospel of Christ, ^wto strengthen and encourage you concerning your faith, ³so that no one will be shaken by these persecutions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to ^xthis. ⁴In fact, when we were with you, we told you previously that we were going to suffer persecution, and as you know, it happened. ⁵For this reason, when I could no longer stand it, I also sent him to find out about your faith, fearing that the tempter had tempted you and that our labor might be for nothing.

Encouraged by Timothy

⁶But now Timothy has come to us ^yfrom you and brought us good news about your faith and love and reported that you always have good memories of us, wanting to see us, as we also want to see you. ^z7Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we were encouraged about you through your faith. ⁸For now we live, if you stand firm ^ain the Lord. ⁹How can we thank God for you in return for all the joy ^bwe experience before our God because of you, ¹⁰as we pray very earnestly night and day to see you face to face ^cand to complete what is lacking in your faith? ^d

Prayer for the Church

¹¹Now may our God and Father ^eHimself, and our Lord Jesus, ^fdirect our way to you. ¹²And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love ^gfor one another ^hand for everyone, just as we also do for you. ¹³May He make your hearts blameless ⁱin holiness ^jbefore our God and Father at the coming ^kof our Lord ^lJesus with all His saints. Amen. ^m