1 Thessalonians 2
1 My fellow believers, you know that our time with you was very worthwhile/effective [LIT].
Denn auch ihr wisset, liebe Brüder, von unserm Eingange zu euch, daß er nicht vergeblich gewesen ist,
2 Although [people] in Philippi [city] previously mistreated us [(exc)] and insulted us, as you know, our God caused us to be courageous. As a result, we told you the good message [that originates/comes from] God, even though some [people in your city] also strongly (opposed [us/tried to prevent us from telling God’s message]).
sondern als wir zuvor gelitten hatten und geschmähet gewesen waren zu Philippi, wie ihr wisset, waren wir dennoch freudig in unserm Gott, bei euch zu sagen das Evangelium Gottes mit großem Kämpfen.
3 When we exhorted/urged (OR, tried to convince) [you to obey God’s message], we did not tell you an untrue message. Instead, we told you a true message. We do not [want to get something for ourselves] by immoral means. We do not try to deceive [you or other people].
Denn unsere Ermahnung ist nicht gewesen zu Irrtum noch zu Unreinigkeit noch mit List,
4 On the contrary, we tell God’s message because he trusted us to do that, because he examined us and considered us [to be acceptable to tell people] the message about Christ. As we teach people, we do not say what they like to hear. Instead, [we say what] God [wants us to say, because] he examines everything that we think and what we desire.
sondern wie wir von Gott bewähret sind, daß uns das Evangelium vertrauet ist zu predigen, also reden wir, nicht als wollten wir den Menschen gefallen, sondern Gott, der unser Herz prüfet.
5 We never (flattered you/said nice things about you insincerely), as you know. We were never greedy, so we never needed to use words to (hide greediness [from you/cause you to think that we were not greedy]). God knows that this is true!
Denn wir sind nie mit Schmeichelworten umgegangen, wie ihr wisset, noch dem Geiz gestellet, Gott ist des Zeuge.
6 We never tried to get people [to honor us],
Haben auch nicht Ehre gesucht von den Leuten, weder von euch noch von andern.
7 although we could have demanded [that you should honor/respect us], because we are apostles [who represent] (OR, [speak for]) Christ. On the contrary, we were gentle when we were among you, as a mother [gently] takes care of her own children [SIM].
Hätten euch auch mögen schwer sein als Christi Apostel; sondern wir sind mütterlich gewesen bei euch, gleichwie eine Amme ihrer Kinder pfleget.
8 So, because we love you, we were delighted to personally tell you the good message that God [gave us]. But also we were delighted to lovingly do all that we could do to help you [SYN] because (you had become very dear to us/we had begun to love you very much).
Also hatten wir Herzenslust an euch und waren willig, euch mitzuteilen nicht allein das Evangelium Gottes, sondern auch unser Leben, darum daß wir euch liebgewonnen haben.
9 My fellow believers, you remember that we worked very hard [DOU] [in order to] ([support ourselves/earn money to buy what we needed]) [while we were with you]. We worked [during the] day and [also at] night in order that we would not have to ask any one of you to give us what we needed, [while] we proclaimed to you the good message that God [gave us].
Ihr seid wohl eingedenk, liebe Brüder, unserer Arbeit und unserer Mühe; denn Tag und Nacht arbeiteten wir, daß wir niemand unter euch beschwerlich wären, und predigten unter euch das Evangelium Gottes.
10 You know that it is true, and God knows that it is true, that we conducted our lives in a very pure, right, and faultless [DOU] manner toward you believers.
Des seid ihr Zeugen und Gott, wie heilig und gerecht und unsträflich wir bei euch, die ihr gläubig waret, gewesen sind.
11 You know also that [we lovingly behaved/acted toward] each one of you, just like a father [lovingly behaves/acts toward] his own children [SIM].
Wie ihr denn wisset, daß wir, als ein Vater seine Kinder, einen jeglichen unter euch ermahnet und getröstet
12 [Specifically, we] kept strongly exhorting/urging and encouraging you that you conduct your lives in the way that God’s people should, [because] he has invited you to become his people over whom he will rule in a wonderful way [HEN].
und bezeuget haben, daß ihr wandeln solltet würdiglich vor Gott, der euch berufen hat zu seinem Reich und zu seiner HERRLIchkeit.
13 We also continually thank God because when you heard the message [that] we told to you, you accepted it as the true message, the good message that God [gave to us]. We did not invent it. [We also thank God] that he is changing your lives because you trust this message [PRS].
Darum auch wir ohne Unterlaß Gott danken, daß ihr, da ihr empfinget von uns das Wort göttlicher Predigt, nahmet ihr's auf nicht als Menschenwort, sondern (wie es denn wahrhaftig ist) als Gottes Wort; welcher auch wirket in euch, die ihr glaubet.
14 My fellow believers, we [know that you sincerely believed the message from God], because the manner in which you acted was just like the manner in which [the congregations] in Judea acted. They also [worship] God, [and they] ([have a close relationship with/are united to]) Christ Jesus. Specifically, you endured it [when] your own countrymen [mistreated you because you believe the message from God], in the same manner that those [Jewish believers in Judea] endured it [when] the Jews [who do not believe in Christ mistreated them].
Denn ihr seid Nachfolger worden, liebe Brüder, der Gemeinden Gottes in Judäa in Christo Jesu, daß ihr ebendasselbige erlitten habt von euren Blutsfreunden, das jene von den Juden,
15 [Unbelieving Jews are] the ones whom God considers guilty [for] killing the Lord Jesus, as well as [for killing] many prophets. Other unbelieving Jews forced us to leave [many towns]. They really make God angry; and [they are] opposed to [what is best for] all human beings!
welche auch den HERRN Jesum getötet haben und ihre eigenen Propheten und haben uns verfolget und gefallen Gott nicht und sind allen Menschen wider,
16 [Specifically], when we tell [the good message] to non-Jewish people in order that they can be saved {[that God] will save them} [spiritually], these [unbelieving Jews] try to stop/prevent us from doing that. Because they continually sin more and more, they are almost reaching the limit that has been [set by God] [MET]! [God] will soon punish them [MTY], at last, for all their sins!
wehren uns, zu sagen den Heiden, damit sie selig würden, auf daß sie ihre Sünden erfüllen allewege; denn der Zorn ist schon endlich über sie kommen.
17 My fellow believers, when for a short time [IDM] [those people forced us to be separated] from you, [we felt like parents] (who had lost all their children/whose children had died) [MET]. [Although] we were far away from you, [we were still] emotionally [concerned about you], and we strongly desired to be present with you.
Wir aber, liebe Brüder, nachdem wir euer eine Weile beraubet gewesen sind nach dem Angesichte, nicht nach dem Herzen, haben wir desto mehr geeilet, euer Angesicht zu sehen, mit großem Verlangen.
18 [You can know that] we wanted to return to you. Indeed I, Paul, [tried to return] twice [IDM]. But [we did not return because] each time Satan [prevented us from returning].
Darum haben wir wollen zu euch kommen (ich, Paulus) zweimal; und Satanas hat uns verhindert.
19 [We were strongly desiring to be with you], because truly you [RHQ] [are the ones about whom we are proud and joyful]! It is because we are confident that you [will] ([remain faithful/continue believing in God]) that we [will be] joyful! You are the ones who we confidently expect [will keep strongly trusting in God!] It is because you [will] ([remain faithful/continue believing in God]) that we [will] be proud [of the work that we have done] [MET, RHQ] [when] our Lord Jesus [examines what we all have done, at the time] when he comes back [to earth]!
Denn wer ist unsere Hoffnung oder Freude oder Krone des Ruhms? Seid nicht auch ihr's vor unserm HERRN Jesu Christo zu seiner Zukunft?
20 Indeed, it is because of you that [even now we] are pleased and joyful!
Ihr seid ja unsere Ehre und Freude.
