I Thessalonians 2

¹For you yourselves know, brothers, that our acceptance among you was not empty.

²Instead, having previously suffered and been treated shamefully, as you know, at Philippi, we had confidence in our God, so as to speak the Gospel of God to you with much solicitude.

³For our exhortation was not in error, nor from impurity, nor with deception.

⁴But, just as we have been tested by God, so that the Gospel would be entrusted to us, so also did we speak, not so as to please men, but rather to please God, who tests our hearts.

⁵And neither did we, at any time, become flattering in speech, as you know, nor did we seek an opportunity for avarice, as God is witness.

⁶Nor did we seek the glory of men, neither from you, nor from others.

⁷And although we could have been a burden to you, as Apostles of Christ, instead we became like little ones in your midst, like a nurse cherishing her children.

⁸So desirous were we for you that we were willing to hand over to you, not only the Gospel of God, but even our own souls. For you have become most beloved to us.

⁹For you remember, brothers, our hardship and weariness. We preached the Gospel of God among you, working night and day, so that we would not be burdensome to any of you.

¹⁰You are witnesses, as is God, of how holy and just and blameless we were with you who have believed.

¹¹And you know the manner, with each one of you, like a father with his sons,

¹²in which we were pleading with you and consoling you, bearing witness, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of God, who has called you into his kingdom and glory.

¹³For this reason also, we give thanks to God without ceasing: because, when you had accepted from us the Word of the hearing of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but (as it truly is) as the Word of God, who is working in you who have believed.

¹⁴For you, brothers, have become imitators of the churches of God which are at Judea, in Christ Jesus. For you, too, have suffered the same things from your fellow countrymen as they have suffered from the Jews,

¹⁵who also killed both the Lord Jesus, and the Prophets, and who have persecuted us. But they do not please God, and so they are adversaries to all men.

¹⁶They prohibit us to speak to the Gentiles, so that they may be saved, and thus do they continually add to their own sins. But the wrath of God will overtake them in the very end.

¹⁷And we, brothers, having been deprived of you for a short time, in sight, but not in heart, have hurried all the more to see your face, with a great desire.

¹⁸For we wanted to come to you, (indeed, I, Paul, attempted to do so once, and then again,) but Satan impeded us.

¹⁹For what is our hope, and our joy, and our crown of glory? Is it not you, before our Lord Jesus Christ at his return?

²⁰For you are our glory and our joy.

I Thessalonians 2

¹For yourselves know, brethren, our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:

²But having suffered many things before and been shamefully treated, (as you know) at Philippi, we had confidence in our God, to speak unto you the gospel of God in much carefulness.

³For our exhortation was not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deceit.

⁴But as we were approved by God that the gospel should be committed to us: even so we speak, not as pleasing men but God, who proveth our hearts.

⁵For neither have we used at any time the speech of flattery, as you know: nor taken an occasion of covetousness (God is witness):

⁶Nor sought we glory of men, neither of you, nor of others.

⁷Whereas we might have been burdensome to you, as the apostles of Christ: but we became little ones in the midst of you, as if a nurse should cherish her children:

⁸So desirous of you, we would gladly impart unto you not only the gospel of God but also our own souls: because you were become most dear unto us.

⁹For you remember, brethren, our labour and toil: working night and day, lest we should be chargeable to any of you, we preached among you the gospel of God.

¹⁰You are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and without blame we have been to you that have believed:

¹¹As you know in what manner, entreating and comforting you (as a father doth his children),

¹²We testified to every one of you that you would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

¹³Therefore, we also give thanks to God without ceasing: because, that when you had received of us the word of the hearing of God, you received it not as the word of men, but (as it is indeed) the word of God, who worketh in you that have believed.

¹⁴For you, brethren, are become followers of the churches of God which are in Judea, in Christ Jesus: for you also have suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they have from the Jews:

¹⁵Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and the prophets, and have persecuted us, and please not God, and are adversaries to all men;

¹⁶Prohibiting us to speak to the Gentiles, that they may be saved, to fill up their sins always: for the wrath of God is come upon them to the end.

¹⁷But we, brethren, being taken away from you for a short time, in sight, not in heart, have hastened the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.

¹⁸For we would have come unto you, I Paul indeed, once and again: but Satan hath hindered us.

¹⁹For what is our hope or joy or crown of glory? Are not you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

²⁰For you are our glory and joy.