1 Thessalonians 2

Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

2You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you^d was not without results.^{e 2}We had previously suffered^f and been treated outrageously in Philippi,^g as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.^{h 3}For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives,ⁱ nor are we trying to trick you.^{j 4}On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.^k We are not trying to please people^l but God, who tests our hearts.^{m 5}You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greedⁿ—God is our witness.^{o 6}We were not looking for praise from people,^p not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles^q of Christ we could have asserted our authority.^{r 7}Instead, we were like young children^a among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,^{s 8}so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God^t but our lives as well.^{u 9}Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked^v night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone^w while we preached the gospel of God to you. ¹⁰You are witnesses,^x and so is God,^y of how holy,^z righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. ¹¹For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,^{a 12}encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy^b of God, who calls^c you into his kingdom and glory.

¹³And we also thank God continually^d because, when you received the word of God,^e which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. ¹⁴For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators^f of God’s churches in Judea,^g which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people^h the same things those churches suffered from the Jews ¹⁵who killed the Lord Jesusⁱ and the prophets^j and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone ¹⁶in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles^k so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit.^l The wrath of God has come upon them at last.^b

Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians

¹⁷But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought),^m out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.^{n 18}For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan^o blocked our way.^{p 19}For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown^q in which we will glory^r in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?^s Is it not you? ²⁰Indeed, you are our glory^t and joy.