1 Thessalonians 2 - English Standard Version (ESV)

Paul's Ministry to the Thessalonians

2 For you yourselves know, brothers,[a] that our (A)coming to you (B)was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated (C)at Philippi, as you know, (D)we had boldness in our God (E)to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much (F)conflict. 3 For (G)our appeal does not spring from (H)error or (I)impurity or (J)any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God (K)to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not (L)to please man, but to please God (M)who tests our hearts. 5 (N)For we never came with words of flattery,[b] as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—(O)God is witness. 6 (P)Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, (Q)though we could have made (R)demands as (S)apostles of Christ. 7 But we were (T)gentle[c] among you, (U)like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God (V)but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

9 For you remember, brothers, (W)our labor and toil: we (X)worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and (Y)God also, (Z)how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11 For you know how, (AA)like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and (AB)charged (AC)you to walk in a manner worthy of God, (AD)who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

13 And (AE)we also thank God constantly[d] for this, that when you received (AF)the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it (AG)not as the word of men[e] but as what it really is, the word of God, (AH)which is at work in you believers. 14 For you, brothers, (AI)became imitators of (AJ)the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For (AK)you suffered the same things from your own countrymen (AL)as they did from the Jews,[f] 15 (AM)who killed both the Lord Jesus and (AN)the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and (AO)oppose all mankind 16 (AP)by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always (AQ)to fill up the measure of their sins. But (AR)wrath has come upon them at last![g]

Paul's Longing to See Them Again

17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, (AS)in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire (AT)to see you face to face, 18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan (AU)hindered us. 19 For what is our hope or (AV)joy or crown of boasting (AW)before our Lord Jesus at his (AX)coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 2:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 9, 14, 17
  2. 1 Thessalonians 2:5 Or with a flattering speech
  3. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Some manuscripts infants
  4. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 Or without ceasing
  5. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women
  6. 1 Thessalonians 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
  7. 1 Thessalonians 2:16 Or completely, or forever

Cross references

  1. 1 Thessalonians 2:1 : ch. 1:9
  2. 1 Thessalonians 2:1 : [2 Thess. 1:10]
  3. 1 Thessalonians 2:2 : Acts 16:22-24
  4. 1 Thessalonians 2:2 : See Acts 4:13
  5. 1 Thessalonians 2:2 : Acts 17:2-9
  6. 1 Thessalonians 2:2 : Phil. 1:30
  7. 1 Thessalonians 2:3 : [2 Cor. 2:17]
  8. 1 Thessalonians 2:3 : 2 Thess. 2:11
  9. 1 Thessalonians 2:3 : ch. 4:7
  10. 1 Thessalonians 2:3 : 2 Cor. 4:2
  11. 1 Thessalonians 2:4 : See Gal. 2:7
  12. 1 Thessalonians 2:4 : See Gal. 1:10
  13. 1 Thessalonians 2:4 : Ps. 17:3; See Rom. 8:27
  14. 1 Thessalonians 2:5 : See Acts 20:33
  15. 1 Thessalonians 2:5 : ver. 10; See Rom. 1:9
  16. 1 Thessalonians 2:6 : [2 Cor. 4:5]; See John 5:41
  17. 1 Thessalonians 2:6 : 1 Cor. 9:4; 2 Thess. 3:9; [Philem. 8, 9]
  18. 1 Thessalonians 2:6 : [ver. 9; 2 Cor. 11:9]
  19. 1 Thessalonians 2:6 : See 1 Cor. 9:1
  20. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 : 2 Tim. 2:24; [1 Cor. 14:20]
  21. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 : [ver. 11; Isa. 49:23; 60:16]
  22. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 : See 2 Cor. 12:15
  23. 1 Thessalonians 2:9 : 2 Thess. 3:8; [Phil. 4:16]
  24. 1 Thessalonians 2:9 : See Acts 18:3
  25. 1 Thessalonians 2:10 : ver. 5
  26. 1 Thessalonians 2:10 : See ch. 1:5
  27. 1 Thessalonians 2:11 : [ver. 7]; See 1 Cor. 4:14
  28. 1 Thessalonians 2:12 : Eph. 4:17
  29. 1 Thessalonians 2:12 : See Eph. 4:1
  30. 1 Thessalonians 2:12 : ch. 5:24; 2 Thess. 2:14; 1 Pet. 5:10; See Rom. 8:28
  31. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 : See ch. 1:2, 3
  32. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 : [Rom. 10:17]
  33. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 : [Gal. 4:14]; See Matt. 10:20
  34. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 : Heb. 4:12
  35. 1 Thessalonians 2:14 : See ch. 1:6
  36. 1 Thessalonians 2:14 : See 1 Cor. 7:17
  37. 1 Thessalonians 2:14 : ch. 3:4; Acts 17:5; 2 Thess. 1:4, 5
  38. 1 Thessalonians 2:14 : [Heb. 10:33, 34]
  39. 1 Thessalonians 2:15 : See Luke 24:20
  40. 1 Thessalonians 2:15 : Jer. 2:30; Matt. 23:29-34; See Matt. 5:12
  41. 1 Thessalonians 2:15 : [Esth. 3:8]
  42. 1 Thessalonians 2:16 : Acts 13:45, 50; 14:2, 19; 17:5, 13; 18:12; 22:21, 22
  43. 1 Thessalonians 2:16 : See Gen. 15:16
  44. 1 Thessalonians 2:16 : See ch. 1:10
  45. 1 Thessalonians 2:17 : 1 Cor. 5:3; Col. 2:5
  46. 1 Thessalonians 2:17 : ch. 3:10
  47. 1 Thessalonians 2:18 : Rom. 15:22; [Rom. 1:13]
  48. 1 Thessalonians 2:19 : See Phil. 4:1
  49. 1 Thessalonians 2:19 : 1 Cor. 15:31; [2 Thess. 1:4]; See 2 Cor. 1:14
  50. 1 Thessalonians 2:19 : 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 2:28

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