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Paul's Ministry to the Thessalonians

¹ 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.