Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians, Chapter 2
{2:1} For you yourselves know, brothers, our visit to you wasn't in
vain, {2:2} but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as
you know, at Philippi, we grew bold in our God to tell you the Good
News of God in much conflict. {2:3} For our exhortation is not of
error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception. {2:4} But even as we have
been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak;
not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts. {2:5} For neither
were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a
cloak of covetousness (God is witness), {2:6} nor seeking glory from
men (neither from you nor from others), when we might have claimed
authority as apostles of Christ. {2:7} But we were gentle among you,
like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
{2:8} Even so, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased
to impart to you, not the Good News of God only, but also our own
souls, because you had become very dear to us. {2:9} For you remember,
brothers, our labor and travail; for working night and day, that we
might not burden any of you, we preached to you the Good News of God.
{2:10} You are witnesses with God, how holy, righteously, and
blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who believe. {2:11} As you
know, we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a
father does his own children, {2:12} to the end that you should walk
worthily of God, who calls you into his own Kingdom and glory. {2:13}
For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when you
received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not
as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which
also works in you who believe. {2:14} For you, brothers, became
imitators of the assemblies of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus;
for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even
as they did from the Jews; {2:15} who killed both the Lord Jesus and
their own prophets, and drove us out, and didn't please God, and are
contrary to all men; {2:16} forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles
that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always. But wrath has
come on them to the uttermost.
{2:17} But we, brothers, being bereaved of you for a short season,
in presence, not in heart, tried even harder to see your face with
great desire, {2:18} because we wanted to come to you--indeed, I,
Paul, once and again--but Satan hindered us. {2:19} For what is our
hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn't it even you, before our
Lord Jesus[1] at his coming? {2:20} For you are our glory and our joy.
________________________________________________________________________
Footnotes:
[1] {2:19} TR adds "Christ"
________________________________________________________________________
The World English Bible is dedicated to the Public Domain by the
translators and editors. It is not copyrighted. "World English Bible"
and the World English Bible logo are a trademarks of Rainbow Missions,
Inc. They may only be used to identify this translation of the Holy
Bible as published by Rainbow Missions, Inc., and faithful copies and
quotations. "Faithful copies" include copies converted to other formats
(i. e. HTML, PDF, etc.) or typeset differently, without altering the
text of the Scriptures. Use of the markings of direct quotes of Jesus
Christ for different rendition (i. e. red text) is optional. Comments
and typo reports are welcome at http://eBible.org/cgi-bin/comment.cgi.
Please see http://WEBible.org/ for updates, revision status, free
downloads, and printed edition purchase information.
___
To cancel this free email subscription, please send
email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with
unsubscribe bible
in the body of the message OR use the form at http://ebible.org/subscribe.htm
