Paul's Ministry to the Thessalonians
1For you yourselves know, brothers,Or brothers and sisters; also verses 9, 14, 17 that our coming to you was not in vain.
2But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.
3For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive,
4but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.
5For we never came with words of flattery,Or with a flattering speech as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness.
6Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.
7But we were gentleSome manuscripts infants among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.
8So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
9For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
10You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.
11For you know how, like a father with his children,
12we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
13And we also thank God constantlyOr without ceasing for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of menThe Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
14For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,The Greek word Ioudaioi can refer to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, who opposed the Christian faith in that time
15who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind
16by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!Or completely, or forever
Paul's Longing to See Them Again
17But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face,
18because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.
19For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?
20For you are our glory and joy.