Thessalonicenses I 2
1 Nam et ipsi scitis, fratres, introitum nostrum ad vos, quia non inanis fuit:
Yes, friends, you yourselves know that your reception of us was not without result.
2 sed ante passi multa, et contumeliis affecti (sicut scitis) in Philippis, fiduciam habuimus in Deo nostro loqui ad vos Evangelium Dei in multa solicitudine.
For, although we had experienced suffering and ill treatment, as you know, at Philippi, we had the courage, by the help of our God, to tell you God’s good news in spite of great opposition.
3 Exhortatio enim nostra non de errore, neque de immunditia, neque in dolo,
Our appeal to you was not based on a delusion, nor was it made from unworthy motives, or with any intention of misleading you.
4 sed sicut probati sumus a Deo ut crederetur nobis Evangelium: ita loquimur non quasi hominibus placentes, sed Deo, qui probat corda nostra.
But, having been found worthy by God to be entrusted with the good news, therefore we tell it; with a view to please, not people, but God who proves our hearts.
5 Neque enim aliquando fuimus in sermone adulationis, sicut scitis: neque in occasione avaritiae: Deus testis est:
Never at any time, as you know, did we use the language of flattery, or make false professions in order to hide selfish aims. God will bear witness to that.
6 nec quaerentes ab hominibus gloriam, neque a vobis, neque ab aliis.
Nor did we seek to win honour from people, whether from you or from others, although, as apostles of Christ, we might have burdened you with our support.
7 Cum possemus vobis oneri esse ut Christi Apostoli: sed facti sumus parvuli in medio vestrum, tamquam si nutrix foveat filios suos.
But we lived among you with the simplicity of a child; we were like a woman nursing her own children.
8 Ita desiderantes vos, cupide volebamus tradere vobis non solum Evangelium Dei, sed etiam animas nostras: quoniam charissimi nobis facti estis.
In our strong affection for you, that seemed to us the best way of sharing with you, not only God’s good news, but our lives as well – so dear had you become to us.
9 Memores enim estis fratres laboris nostri, et fatigationis: nocte ac die operantes, ne quem vestrum gravaremus, praedicavimus in vobis Evangelium Dei.
You will not have forgotten, friends, our labour and toil. Night and day we used to work at our trades, so as not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you God’s good news.
10 Vos testes estis, et Deus, quam sancte, et iuste, et sine querela, vobis, qui credidistis, affuimus:
You will bear witness, and God also, that our relations with you who believed in Christ were pure, and upright, and beyond reproach.
11 sicut scitis, qualiter unumquemque vestrum (sicut pater filios suos)
Indeed, you know that, like a father with his own children, we used to encourage and comfort every one of you, and solemnly plead with you;
12 deprecantes vos, et consolantes, testificati sumus, ut ambularetis digne Deo, qui vocavit vos in suum regnum, et gloriam.
so that you should make your daily lives worthy of God who is calling you into the glory of his kingdom.
13 Ideo et nos gratias agimus Deo sine intermissione: quoniam cum accepissetis a nobis verbum auditus Dei, accepistis illud, non ut verbum hominum, sed (sicut est vere) verbum Dei, qui operatur in vobis, qui credidistis.
This, too, is a reason why we, on our part, are continually thanking God – because, in receiving the teaching that you had from us, you accepted it, not as the teaching of humans, but as what it really is – the teaching of God, which is even now doing its work within you who believe in Christ.
14 vos enim imitatores facti estis fratres Ecclesiarum Dei, quae sunt in Iudaea in Christo Iesu: quia eadem passi estis et vos a contribulibus vestris, sicut et ipsi a Iudaeis:
For you, friends, began to follow the example of the churches of God in Judea which are in union with Jesus Christ; you, in your turn, suffering at the hands of your fellow citizens, in the same way as those churches did at the hands of their people –
15 qui et Dominum occiderunt Iesum, et Prophetas, et nos persecuti sunt, et Deo non placent, et omnibus hominibus adversantur,
who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and persecuted us also. They do not try to please God, and they are enemies to all humanity,
16 prohibentes nos Gentibus loqui ut salvae fiant, ut impleant peccata sua semper: pervenit enim ira Dei super illos usque in finem.
for they try to prevent us from speaking to the Gentiles with a view to their salvation, and so are always filling up the measure of their iniquity. But the wrath of God has come upon them to the full!
17 Nos autem fratres desolati a vobis ad tempus horae, aspectu, non corde, abundantius festinavimus faciem vestram videre cum multo desiderio:
As for ourselves, friends, our having been bereaved of you even for a short time – though in body only, and not in spirit – made us all the more eager to see your faces again; and the longing to do so was strong on us.
18 quoniam voluimus venire ad vos: ego quidem Paulus, et semel, et iterum, sed impedivit nos satanas.
That was why we made up our minds to go and see you – at least I, Paul, did, more than once – but Satan put difficulties in our way.
19 Quae est enim nostra spes, aut gaudium, aut corona gloriae? Nonne vos ante Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum estis in adventu eius?
For what hope or joy will be ours, or what crown will we have to boast of, in the presence of our Lord Jesus, at his coming, if it isn’t you?
20 vos enim estis gloria nostra et gaudium.
You are our pride and our delight!
