1 Thessalonians 2–3

2For yourselves, brethren, know our ^aentrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: ²But even after that we had suffered before, and were ^bshamefully entreated, as ye know, ^cat Philippi, ^dwe were bold in our God ^eto speak unto you the gospel of God with much ^fcontention. ³For our ^gexhortation was not of ^hdeceit, nor of ⁱuncleanness, nor in ^kguile: ⁴But as ^lwe were allowed of God ^mto be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as ⁿpleasing men, but God, ^owhich trieth our hearts. ⁵For neither at any time ^knused we flattering words, as ye know, nor ^pa cloke of ^qcovetousness; ^rGod is witness: ⁶Nor ^sof men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when ^twe might have ^||been ^uburdensome, as ^wthe apostles of Christ. ⁷But we were ^xgentle among you, even ^yas a nurse cherisheth her children: ⁸So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, ^zbut also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. ⁹For ye remember, brethren, ^zzour labour and travail: for ^alabouring ^aanight and day, because we would not ^bbe chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. ^10cYe are witnesses, and ^dGod also, ^chow ^eholily and ^ejustly and ^funblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: ¹¹As ye know how we exhorted and ^gcomforted and charged every one of you, ^has a father doth his children, ¹²ⁱThat ye would walk worthy of God, ^jwho hath called you unto ^khis kingdom and glory. ¹³For this cause also thank we God ^lwithout ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God ^mwhich ye heard of us, ye received it ⁿnot as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. ¹⁴For ye, brethren, ^obecame followers of ^pthe churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ^qye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, ^reven as they have of the Jews: ^15sWho both killed the Lord Jesus, and ^ttheir own prophets, and have ^||persecuted us; and ^uthey please not God, and ^ware contrary to all men: ^16xForbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, ^yto fill up their sins alway: for ^zthe wrath ^ais come upon them ^bto the uttermost.

¹⁷But we, brethren, ^cbeing taken from you ^dfor a short time ^ein presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly ^fto see your face with great desire. ¹⁸Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but ^gSatan ^hhindered us. ¹⁹For what is our hope, or ⁱjoy, or ⁱcrown of ^||krejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ ^lat his coming? ²⁰For ye are our glory and joy.

3Wherefore ^awhen we could no longer ^bforbear, ^cwe thought it good to be left at Athens alone; ²And sent ^cdTimotheus, ^ccour brother, and minister of God, and our ^defellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, ^fto establish you, and to ^gcomfort you concerning your faith: ³That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that ^hwe are appointed thereunto. ⁴For verily, when we were with you, we told you before ^hthat we should suffer tribulation; even as ⁱit came to pass, and ye know. ⁵For this cause, ^awhen I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means ^kthe tempter ^lhave tempted you, and ^mour labour be in vain. ⁶But now ⁿwhen Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of ^oyour faith and charity, and ^pthat ye have good remembrance of us always, ^qdesiring greatly to see us, as ^qwe also to see you: ⁷Therefore, brethren, ^rwe were ^gcomforted over you in all our affliction and ^sdistress by your faith: ⁸For now ^twe live, if ye ^ustand fast in the Lord. ⁹For ^wwhat thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; ^10xNight and day ^xypraying exceedingly ^zthat we might see your face, and ^amight perfect that which is lacking in your faith? ¹¹Now God himself ^band our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, ^||cdirect our way unto you. ¹²And the Lord ^dmake you to increase and abound ^ein love ^fone toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: ¹³To the end he may ^gstablish your hearts ^hunblameable in holiness before God, ^beven our Father, ⁱat the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ ^kwith all his saints.