2 1 He declareth how faithfully he preacheth the Gospel unto them, 5 seeking neither gain, 6 nor praise of men: 10 and he proveth the same by their own testimony: 14 that they did courageously bear persecution of their countrymen: 17 that he desireth very much to see them.
1 For [a]ye yourselves know, brethren, that our entrance in unto you was not in vain,
2 [b]But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated at (A)Philippi, (as ye know) we were bold in [c]our God, to speak unto you the Gospel of God, with much striving.
3 [d]For our exhortation was not by deceit, nor [e]by uncleanness, nor by guile.
4 [f]But as we were [g]allowed of God, that the Gospel should be committed unto us, so we speak, not as they that please men, but God, which [h]approveth our hearts:
5 Neither yet did we ever use flattering words, as ye know, nor colored covetousness, God is record.
6 [i]Neither sought we praise of men, neither of you, nor of others, when we might have been [j]chargeable, as the Apostles of Christ.
7 But we were [k]gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children.
8 [l]Thus being affectioned toward you, our good will was to have dealt unto you, not the Gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
9 [m]For ye remember, brethren, (B)our labor and travail: for we labored day and night, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, and preached unto you the Gospel of God.
10 [n]Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe.
11 [o]As ye know how that we exhorted you, and comforted, and besought every one of you, (as a father his children.)
12 [p]That ye (C)would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
13 [q]For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, that when ye received the word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is indeed the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe.
14 [r]For brethren, ye are become followers of the Churches of God, which in Judea are in [s]Christ Jesus, because ye have also suffered the same things of your own [t]country men, even as they have of the Jews,
15 [u]Who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own Prophets, and have persecuted us away, [v]and God they please not, and are contrary to [w]all men,
16 And forbid us to preach unto the Gentiles, that they might be saved, to [x]fulfill their sins always: for the [y]wrath of God is come on them to the utmost.
17 [z]Forasmuch, brethren, as we [aa]were kept from you for a season, concerning sight, but not in the heart, we enforced the more to see your face with great desire.
18 Therefore we would have come unto you (I Paul, at least once or twice) but Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our hope or joy, or crown of rejoicing? are not even you it in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
20 Yea, ye are our glory and joy.
Footnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 2:1 That which he touched before shortly concerning his Apostleship, he handleth now more at large, and to that end and purpose which we spake of.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:2 The virtues of a true Pastor are freely, and without fear to preach the Gospel, even in the midst of dangers.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:2 Through God his gracious help.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:3 To teach pure doctrine faithfully and with a pure heart.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:3 By any wicked and naughty kind of dealing.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:4 To approve his conscience to God, being free from all flattery and covetousness.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:4 Seeing there is this difference between the judgments of God and the judgments of men, that when men choose, they respect the qualities of those things which stand before them, but God findeth the reason of his counsel only in himself, it followeth, that seeing we are not able to think a good thought, that whomsoever he first chooseth to those holy callings, he maketh them able, and doth not find them able. And therefore in that we are allowed of God, it hangeth upon his mercy.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:4 Which liketh and alloweth them.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:6 To submit himself even to the basest, to win them, and to eschew all pride.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:6 When I might lawfully have lived upon the expenses of the Church.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:7 We were not rough, but easy, and gentle, as a nurse that is neither ambitious nor covetous, but taketh all pains as patiently, as if she were a mother.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:8 To have the flock that is committed unto him in more estimation than his own life.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:9 To depart with his own rights rather than to be chargeable to his sheep.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:10 To excel others in example of godly life.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:11 To exhort and comfort with a fatherly mind and affection.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:12 To exhort all men diligently and earnestly to lead a godly life.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:13 Having approved his ministry, he commendeth again (to that end and purpose that I spake of) the cheerfulness of the Thessalonians, which was answerable to his diligence in preaching, and their manly patience.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:14 He confirmeth them in their afflictions which they suffered of their own people, because they were afflicted of their own countrymen: which came as well (saith he) to the Churches of the Jews, as to them: and therefore they ought to take it in good part.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:14 Which Christ hath gathered together.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:14 Even of them which are of the same country, and the same town that you are of.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:15 He preventeth an offense which might be taken, for that the Jews especially above all others persecuted the Gospel. That is no new thing, sayeth he, seeing they slew Christ himself and his Prophets, and have banished me also.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:15 He foretelleth the utter destruction of the Jews, lest any man should be moved by their rebellion.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:15 For the Jews would neither enter into the kingdom of God themselves, nor suffer others to enter in.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:16 Until the wickedness of theirs which they have by inheritance as it were of their fathers, be grown so great that the measure of their iniquity being filled, God may come forth to wrath.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:16 The judgments of God being angry, which indeed appeared shortly after in the destruction of the city of Jerusalem, whither many resorted even out of divers provinces, when it was besieged.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:17 He meeteth with an objection, why he came not to them straightway being in so great misery, I desired oftentimes (saith he) and it lay not in me, but Satan hindered my endeavors, and therefore I sent Timothy my faithful companion unto you, because you are most dear to me.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:17 Were kept asunder from you, and as it were orphans.