1 Thessalonians 2Book 52 of 66 · 20 verses · MBT primary, NKJV fallback where MBT pending
For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain.
But after we had previously suffered and been treated shamefully at Philippi — as you know — we had courage in our God to speak to you the gospel of God, in the midst of much opposition.
For our exhortation does not come from error, or from impurity, or by way of deceit;
but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak — not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.
For we never came with flattering speech, as you know — nor with a pretext for greed; God is witness.
Nor did we seek glory from people — neither from you, nor from others — when we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.
But we were gentle in your midst, like a nursing mother caring for her own children.
So, having a deep affection for you, we were well-pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives — because you had become beloved to us.
For you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship — laboring night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
You are witnesses, and so is God — how holy, righteous, and blameless was our conduct toward you who believe.
Just as you know how, like a father with his own children, we were exhorting each one of you, and encouraging and imploring you,
that you should walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
And for this reason we also constantly thank God — that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God — which also is at work in you who believe.
For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea — for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,
who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out — and they do not please God, and are hostile to all people,
hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they always fill up the measure of their sins. But the wrath has come upon them at last.
But we, brothers — having been torn away from you for a short time, in person but not in heart — were all the more eager and longing to see your face.
For we wanted to come to you — I, Paul, more than once — but Satan hindered us.
For who is our hope, our joy, or our crown of boasting? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?