1 Thessalonians 2
2
Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica
1You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain. 2#Ac 16:22–24; 17:2–9But even after we had previously suffered and were shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to declare to you the gospel of God amid much opposition. 3#2Co 2:17; 4:2For our exhortation was not from deceit, nor from uncleanness, nor in guile. 4#Gal 1:10; 2:7; Ro 8:27But as we were allowed by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not to please men, but God, who examines our hearts. 5#Ac 20:33; Ro 1:9For neither at any time did we come with flattering words, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed. God is our witness. 6#Jn 5:41; 5:44Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you, or from others, even though we might have made demands as the apostles of Christ.
7#1Th 2:11; Isa 49:23But we were gentle among you, like a nurse caring for her own children. 8#2Co 12:15; 1Jn 3:16So having great love toward you, we were willing to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you were dear to us. 9#Ac 18:3; Ro 1:1For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil. Laboring night and day so as not to be an expense to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. 10#1Th 1:5; 2Co 1:12You and God are witnesses of how pure, upright, and blameless we ourselves behaved among you who believe. 11#1Th 2:7As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and commanded every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12#Eph 4:1; 1Th 5:24that you would walk in a manner worthy of God, who has called you to His kingdom and glory.
13#Heb 4:12; Ro 10:17; Gal 4:14For this reason we thank God without ceasing because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which effectively works also in you who believe. 14#Gal 1:22; 1Th 1:6For you, brothers, became followers of the churches of God, which in Judea are in Christ Jesus. You also have suffered the same things from your own countrymen, as they have from the Jews, 15#Mt 5:12; Ac 2:23who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets and have persecuted us. They do not please God and are contrary to all men, 16#Ac 13:50; Ge 15:16forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved. In this way they are always piling up their sins, but wrath has come upon them to the extreme.
Paul’s Desire to Visit Again
17#1Co 5:3; Col 2:5But we, brothers, being taken from you for a short time, in presence, not in heart, endeavored all the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. 18#Ro 15:22; 1:13; Php 4:16Therefore we wished to come to you—even I, Paul, once and again—but Satan hindered us. 19#Php 4:1; 2Co 1:14; 1Th 3:13For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Will it not even be you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 20You are our glory and joy.
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Military Bible Association
1 Thessalonians 2
2
Paul's Work in Thessalonica
1My friends, you know our time with you wasn't wasted. 2#Ac 16.19-24; Ac 17.1-9. As you remember, we had been mistreated and insulted at Philippi. But God gave us the courage to tell you the good news about him, even though many people caused us trouble. 3We didn't have any hidden motives when we won you over, and we didn't try to fool or trick anyone. 4God was pleased to trust us with his message. We didn't speak to please people, but to please God who knows our motives.
5You also know we didn't try to flatter anyone. God himself knows what we did wasn't a cover-up for greed. 6We were not trying to get you or anyone else to praise us. 7But as apostles, we could have demanded help from you. After all, Christ is the one who sent us. We chose to be like children or like a mother#2.7 like children or like a mother: Some manuscripts have “as gentle as a mother.” nursing her baby. 8We cared so much for you, and you became so dear to us, that we were willing to give our lives for you when we gave you God's message.
9My dear friends, you surely haven't forgotten our hard work and hardships. You remember how night and day we struggled to make a living, so we could tell you God's message without being a burden to anyone. 10Both you and God are witnesses that we were pure and honest and innocent in our dealings with you followers of the Lord. 11You also know we did everything for you that parents would do for their own children. 12We begged, encouraged, and urged each of you to live in a way that would honor God. He is the one who chose you to share in his own kingdom and glory.
13We always thank God that you believed the message we preached. It came from him, and it isn't something made up by humans. You accepted it as God's message, and now he is working in you. 14#Ac 17.5. My friends, you did just like God's churches in Judea and like the other followers of Christ Jesus there. And so, you were mistreated by your own people, in the same way they were mistreated by their people.
15 #
Ac 9.23,29; 13.45,50; 14.2,5,19; 17.5,13; 18.12. Those evil people killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and they even chased us away. God doesn't like what they do and neither does anyone else. 16They keep us from speaking his message to the Gentiles and from leading them to be saved. They have always gone too far with their sins. Now God has finally become angry and will punish them.
Paul Wants To Visit the Church Again
17My friends, we were kept from coming to you for a while, but we never stopped thinking about you. We were eager to see you and tried our best to visit you in person. 18We really wanted to come. I myself tried several times, but Satan always stopped us. 19After all, when the Lord Jesus appears, who else but you will give us hope and joy and be like a glorious crown for us? 20You alone are our glory and joy!
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
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