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 emissaries of Messiah. {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 Messiah
Yeshua; for you also suffered the same things from your own
countrymen, even as they did from the Judeans; {2:15} who killed both
the Lord Yeshua 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 Yeshua[1] at his coming? {2:20} For you are our glory and our joy.
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Footnotes:
[1] {2:19} TR adds "Messiah"
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