1 Thessalonians 2
2
Paul’s Ministry to the Thessalonians
1For you yourselves know, brothers,#2:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 9, 14, 17 that our #ch. 1:9 coming to you #[2 Thess. 1:10]was not in vain. 2But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated #Acts 16:22-24 at Philippi, as you know, #See Acts 4:13 we had boldness in our God #Acts 17:2-9 to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much #Phil. 1:30conflict. 3For #[2 Cor. 2:17] our appeal does not spring from #2 Thess. 2:11 error or #ch. 4:7 impurity or #2 Cor. 4:2any attempt to deceive, 4but just as we have been approved by God #See Gal. 2:7 to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not #See Gal. 1:10 to please man, but to please God #Ps. 17:3; See Rom. 8:27who tests our hearts. 5#See Acts 20:33 For we never came with words of flattery,#2:5 Or with a flattering speech as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—#ver. 10; See Rom. 1:9God is witness. 6#[2 Cor. 4:5]; See John 5:41 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, #1 Cor. 9:4; 2 Thess. 3:9; [Philem. 8, 9] though we could have made #[ver. 9; 2 Cor. 11:9] demands as #See 1 Cor. 9:1apostles of Christ. 7But we were #2 Tim. 2:24; [1 Cor. 14:20] gentle#2:7 Some manuscripts infants among you, #[ver. 11; Isa. 49:23; 60:16]like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God #See 2 Cor. 12:15but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
9For you remember, brothers, #2 Thess. 3:8; [Phil. 4:16] our labor and toil: we #See Acts 18:3worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10You are witnesses, and #ver. 5 God also, #See ch. 1:5how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11For you know how, #[ver. 7]; See 1 Cor. 4:14like a father with his children, 12we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and #Eph. 4:17 charged #See Eph. 4:1 you to walk in a manner worthy of God, #ch. 5:24; 2 Thess. 2:14; 1 Pet. 5:10; See Rom. 8:28who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
13And #See ch. 1:2, 3 we also thank God constantly#2:13 Or without ceasing for this, that when you received #[Rom. 10:17] the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it #[Gal. 4:14]; See Matt. 10:20 not as the word of men#2:13 The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women but as what it really is, the word of God, #Heb. 4:12which is at work in you believers. 14For you, brothers, #See ch. 1:6 became imitators of #See 1 Cor. 7:17 the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For #ch. 3:4; Acts 17:5; 2 Thess. 1:4, 5 you suffered the same things from your own countrymen #[Heb. 10:33, 34]as they did from the Jews,#2:14 The Greek word Ioudaioi can refer to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, who opposed the Christian faith in that time 15#See Luke 24:20 who killed both the Lord Jesus and #Jer. 2:30; Matt. 23:29-34; See Matt. 5:12 the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and #[Esth. 3:8]oppose all mankind 16#Acts 13:45, 50; 14:2, 19; 17:5, 13; 18:12; 22:21, 22 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always #See Gen. 15:16 to fill up the measure of their sins. But #See ch. 1:10wrath has come upon them at last!#2:16 Or completely, or forever
Paul’s Longing to See Them Again
17But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, #1 Cor. 5:3; Col. 2:5 in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire #ch. 3:10to see you face to face, 18because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan #Rom. 15:22; [Rom. 1:13]hindered us. 19For what is our hope or #See Phil. 4:1 joy or crown of boasting #1 Cor. 15:31; [2 Thess. 1:4]; See 2 Cor. 1:14 before our Lord Jesus at his #ch. 3:13; 4:15; 5:23; Matt. 24:3; 1 Cor. 15:23; 2 Thess. 2:1, 8; James 5:7, 8; 2 Pet. 1:16; 3:4, 12; 1 John 2:28coming? Is it not you? 20For you are our glory and joy.
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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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