1 Thessalonians 2

Paul’s Conduct

2For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. ²But ¹even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at ^aPhilippi, as you know, we were ^bbold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. ^3cFor our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.

⁴But as ^dwe have been approved by God ^eto be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, ^fnot as pleasing men, but God ^gwho tests our hearts. ⁵For ^hneither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a ²cloak for covetousness—ⁱGod is witness. ^6jNor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when ^kwe might have ^lmade demands ^mas apostles of Christ. ⁷But ⁿwe were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. ⁸So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased ^oto impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also ^pour own lives, because you had become dear to us. ⁹For you remember, brethren, our ^qlabor and toil; for laboring night and day, ^rthat we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

^10sYou are witnesses, and God also, ^thow devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; ¹¹as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and ³charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, ^12uthat you would walk worthy of God ^vwho calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Their Conversion

¹³For this reason we also thank God ^wwithout ceasing, because when you ^xreceived the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it ^ynot as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively ^zworks in you who believe. ¹⁴For you, brethren, became imitators ^aof the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For ^byou also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, ^15cwho killed both the Lord Jesus and ^dtheir own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God ^eand are ⁴contrary to all men, ^16fforbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always ^gto fill up the measure of their sins; ^hbut wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.

Longing to See Them

¹⁷But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time ⁱin presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. ¹⁸Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but ^jSatan hindered us. ¹⁹For ^kwhat is our hope, or joy, or ^lcrown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the ^mpresence of our Lord Jesus Christ ⁿat His coming? ²⁰For you are our glory and joy.