< 1 Thessalonians 2 >

1 Brothers and sisters, you yourselves know what our visit meant to you, and that it wasn't wasted!
弟兄們,你們自己原曉得我們進到你們那裏並不是徒然的。
2 You'll recall that after having had much trouble and bad treatment at Philippi, with the help of God we still dared to share God's good news with you, despite the opposition we faced.
我們從前在腓立比被害受辱,這是你們知道的;然而還是靠我們的上帝放開膽量,在大爭戰中把上帝的福音傳給你們。
3 For what we speak about isn't deceptive, or worthless, or fraudulent.
我們的勸勉不是出於錯誤,不是出於污穢,也不是用詭詐。
4 On the contrary, we have God's approval for what we say—he's entrusted us with sharing the good news. We don't set out to please people, but God. He's the one who judges our motives.
但上帝既然驗中了我們,把福音託付我們,我們就照樣講,不是要討人喜歡,乃是要討那察驗我們心的上帝喜歡。
5 As you know, we've never used flattering words. Nor were we covering up some greedy, selfish attitude—as God is our witness!
因為我們從來沒有用過諂媚的話,這是你們知道的;也沒有藏着貪心,這是上帝可以作見證的。
6 We weren't trying to win anybody's praise—not from you, nor anyone else. We could have become a “burden” to you as messengers of Christ,
我們作基督的使徒,雖然可以叫人尊重,卻沒有向你們或向別人求榮耀;
7 but instead we acted kindly among you, like a mother caring for her own children.
只在你們中間存心溫柔,如同母親乳養自己的孩子。
8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not just God's good news, but also our very own selves, because you had become so dear to us.
我們既是這樣愛你們,不但願意將上帝的福音給你們,連自己的性命也願意給你們,因你們是我們所疼愛的。
9 Don't you remember, brothers and sisters, all our hard work— working day and night so we wouldn't be a burden to any of you as we shared God's good news with you?
弟兄們,你們記念我們的辛苦勞碌,晝夜做工,傳上帝的福音給你們,免得叫你們一人受累。
10 You yourselves can testify as to how we acted, and God can too—how we treated you believers with a holy attitude, fairly and blamelessly.
我們向你們信主的人,是何等聖潔、公義、無可指摘,有你們作見證,也有上帝作見證。
11 You know how we cared for every one of you like a father caring for his own children. We encouraged you, comforted you, and shared with you our experience
你們也曉得,我們怎樣勸勉你們,安慰你們,囑咐你們各人,好像父親待自己的兒女一樣,
12 so that you could live as God would want you to live—the God who calls you to his own kingdom and glory.
要叫你們行事對得起那召你們進他國、得他榮耀的上帝。
13 Another thing: we're always thanking God that when you heard and accepted the word of God, you didn't treat it as some human words, but what it truly is, the word of God. This is what is at work in those of you who trust in him.
為此,我們也不住地感謝上帝,因你們聽見我們所傳上帝的道就領受了;不以為是人的道,乃以為是上帝的道。這道實在是上帝的,並且運行在你們信主的人心中。
14 The experience you brothers and sisters have had imitates that of God's churches that belong to Christ Jesus in Judaea. Just like your fellow Jewish Christians you suffered as they did at the hands of the Jewish leaders
弟兄們,你們曾效法猶太中在基督耶穌裏上帝的各教會;因為你們也受了本地人的苦害,像他們受了猶太人的苦害一樣。
15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and chased us out. They don't please God and they are hostile to everyone,
這猶太人殺了主耶穌和先知,又把我們趕出去。他們不得上帝的喜悅,且與眾人為敵,
16 trying to prevent us from speaking to the other nations to prevent them from being saved. They're always sinning to the maximum extent, but for them full judgment has arrived!
不許我們傳道給外邦人使外邦人得救,常常充滿自己的罪惡。上帝的忿怒臨在他們身上已經到了極處。
17 Brothers and sisters, since we felt as if we'd experienced a family separation because we hadn't seen you for a while (separated physically though not in spirit), we tried even harder to come and see you again face to face because that's what we wanted to do.
弟兄們,我們暫時與你們離別,是面目離別,心裏卻不離別;我們極力地想法子,很願意見你們的面。
18 We really wanted to come and visit you, and I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan stopped us.
所以我們有意到你們那裏;我-保羅有一兩次要去,只是撒但阻擋了我們。
19 For what gives us hope, what makes us happy, what we are really proud of as we stand before our Lord Jesus Christ when he comes back—is having you there too!
我們的盼望和喜樂,並所誇的冠冕是甚麼呢?豈不是我們主耶穌來的時候、你們在他面前站立得住嗎?
20 You are our pride and joy!
因為你們就是我們的榮耀,我們的喜樂。

< 1 Thessalonians 2 >