1 Thessalonians 2
1 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain.
2 On the contrary, after suffering and being mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we found courage in our God to announce God’s good news to you amid much struggle.
3 For our appeal does not come from error or impurity, nor is it made with deceit.
4 Rather, just as God approved us to be entrusted with the good news, so we speak—not to please people, but God, who examines our hearts.
5 For we never used flattering words, as you know, or made a pretext of greed; God is our witness.
6 We did not seek praise from people, either from you or from others.
7 Though, as Christ’s apostles, we could have been a burden, we were gentle among you, like a mother tenderly caring for her own children.
8 With such affection for you, we were glad to share with you not only God’s good news but also our very lives, because you had become dear to us.
9 For you remember, brothers and sisters, our work and toil: working night and day so as not to burden any of you, we proclaimed God’s good news to you.
10 You are witnesses, and God too, of how holy, just, and blameless we were toward you who believe.
11 You know that we were like a father with his own children to each one of you,
12 urging, comforting, and insisting that you live in a way worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
13 And for this reason we also continually thank God: when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human word, but as what it truly is, God’s word, which is at work in you who believe.
14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea in Christ Jesus: you suffered the same things from your own people as they did from the Jews,
15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and persecuted us. They do not please God and are opposed to everyone.
16 They keep us from speaking to the nations so they may be saved, and so they continually fill up their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last.
17 As for us, brothers and sisters, though we were separated from you for a short time in person, not in heart, we made every effort, with great longing, to see you face to face.
18 That is why we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—but Satan stopped us.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you too?
20 Yes, you are our glory and joy.
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