Paul's Ministry to the Thessalonians
1 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our
1coming to you
2was not in vain.
2
But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated
3at Philippi, as you know,
4we had boldness in our God
5to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much
6conflict.
3
For
7our appeal does not spring from
8error or
9impurity or
10any attempt to deceive,
4
but just as we have been approved by God
11to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not
12to please man, but to please God
13who tests our hearts.
5
14For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed--
15God is witness.
6
16Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others,
17though we could have made
18demands as
19apostles of Christ.
7
But we were
20gentle among you,
21like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.
8
So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God
22but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
9
For you remember, brothers,
23our labor and toil: we
24worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
10
You are witnesses, and
25God also,
26how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.
11
For you know how,
27like a father with his children,
12
we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and
28charged
29you to walk in a manner worthy of God,
30who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
13
And
31we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received
32the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it
33not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God,
34which is at work in you believers.
14
For you, brothers,
35became imitators of
36the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For
37you suffered the same things from your own countrymen
38as they did from the Jews,
15
39who killed both the Lord Jesus and
40the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and
41oppose all mankind
16
42by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved--so as always
43to fill up the measure of their sins. But
44God's wrath has come upon them at last!
Paul's Longing to See Them Again
17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time,
45in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire
46to see you face to face,
18
because we wanted to come to you--I, Paul, again and again--but Satan
47hindered us.
19
For what is our hope or
48joy or crown of boasting
49before our Lord Jesus at his
50coming? Is it not you?
20
For you are our glory and joy.