Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

2:1 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters,1 about our coming to you—it has not proven to be purposeless.2 2:2 But although we suffered earlier and were mistreated in Philippi,3 as you know, we had the courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God4 in spite of much opposition. 2:3 For the appeal we make5 does not come6 from error or impurity or with deceit, 2:4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we declare it, not to please people but God, who examines our hearts. 2:5 For we never appeared7 with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is our witness—2:6 nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others, 2:7 8 although we could have imposed our weight as apostles of Christ; instead we became9 little children10 among you. Like a nursing mother caring for her own children, 2:8 with such affection for you11 we were happy12 to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 2:9 For you recall, brothers and sisters,13 our toil and drudgery: By working night and day so as not to impose a burden on any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. 2:10 You are witnesses, and so is God, as to how holy and righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you who believe. 2:11 As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his own children, 2:12 exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you live in a way worthy of God who calls you to his own kingdom and his glory. 2:13 And so14 we too constantly thank God that when you received God’s message that you heard from us,15 you accepted it not as a human message,16 but as it truly is, God’s message, which is at work among you who believe. 2:14 For you became imitators, brothers and sisters,17 of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they in fact did from the Jews, 2:15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets18 and persecuted us severely.19 They are displeasing to God and are opposed to all people, 2:16 because they hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they constantly fill up their measure of sins,20 but wrath21 has come upon them completely.22