1 Thessalonians 2
1 For you yourselves, brothers, are conscious that our coming among you was not without effect:
For yourselves know, brethren, our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
2 But after we had first undergone much pain and been cruelly attacked as you saw, at Philippi, by the help of God we gave you the good news without fear, though everything was against us.
But 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.
3 For our witness does not come from error or from an unclean heart or from deceit:
For our exhortation was not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deceit:
4 But even as the good news was given to us by the approval of God, so we give it out; not as pleasing men, but God by whom our hearts are tested.
But 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.
5 For it is common knowledge among you that we never made use of smooth-sounding false words, and God is witness that at no time were we secretly desiring profit for ourselves,
For neither have we used, at any time, the speech of flattery, as you know; nor taken an occasion of covetousness, God is witness:
6 Or looking for glory from men, from you or from others, when we might have made ourselves a care to you as Apostles of Christ.
Nor sought we glory of men, neither of you, nor of others.
7 But we were gentle among you, like a woman caring for her little ones:
Whereas 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:
8 Even so, being full of loving desire for you, we took delight in giving you not only God's good news, but even our lives, because you were dear to us.
So 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.
9 For you have the memory, my brothers, of our trouble and care; how, working night and day, so that we might not be a trouble to any of you, we gave you the good news of God.
For 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.
10 You are witnesses, with God, how holy and upright and free from all evil was our way of life among you who have faith;
You are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and without blame, we have been to you that have believed:
11 Even as you saw how, like a father with his children, we were teaching and comforting you all, and giving witness,
As you know in what manner, entreating and comforting you, (as a father doth his children, )
12 So that your lives might be pleasing to God, who has given you a part in his kingdom and his glory.
We testified to every one of you, that you would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
13 And for this cause we still give praise to God, that, when the word came to your ears through us, you took it, not as the word of man, but, as it truly is, the word of God, which has living power in you who have faith.
Therefore, 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.
14 For you, my brothers, took as your examples the churches of God which are in Judaea in Christ Jesus; because you underwent the same things from your countrymen as they did from the Jews;
For 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 coutrymen, even as they have from the Jews,
15 Who put to death the Lord Jesus and the prophets, violently driving us out; who are unpleasing to God and against all men;
Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and the prophets, and have persecuted us, and please not God, and are adversaries to all men;
16 Who, to make the measure of their sins complete, kept us from giving the word of salvation to the Gentiles: but the wrath of God is about to come on them in the fullest degree.
Prohibiting 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.
17 But we, my brothers, being away from you for a short time, in body but not in heart, had all the more desire to see your face;
But 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.
18 For which reason we made attempts to come to you, even I, Paul, once and again; but Satan kept us from coming.
For we would have come unto you, I Paul indeed, once and again: but Satan hath hindered us.
19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of glory? Are not even you, before our Lord Jesus, at his coming?
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glory? Are not you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
20 For you are our glory and our joy.
For you are our glory and joy.
