1 Thessalonians

1For you yourselves know, brothers, our visit to you wasn’t in vain,

2but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we grew bold in our God to tell you the Good News of God in much conflict.

3For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception.

4But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak—not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts.

5For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness),

6nor seeking glory from men (neither from you nor from others), when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ.

7But we were gentle amongst you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

8Even so, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not the Good News of God only, but also our own souls, because you had become very dear to us.

9For you remember, brothers, our labour and travail; for working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the Good News of God.

10You are witnesses with God how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves towards you who believe.

11As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a father does his own children,

12to the end that you should walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own Kingdom and glory.

13For this cause we also thank God without ceasing that when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, God’s word, which also works in you who believe.

14For you, brothers, became imitators of the assemblies of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus; for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews

15who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out, and don’t please God, and are contrary to all men,

16forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, to fill up their sins always. But wrath has come on them to the uttermost.

17But we, brothers, being bereaved of you for a short season in presence, not in heart, tried even harder to see your face with great desire,

18because we wanted to come to you—indeed, I, Paul, once and again—but Satan hindered us.

19For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn’t it even you, before our Lord Jesusat his coming?

20For you are our glory and our joy.

1For yourselves know, brethren, our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:

2But having suffered many things before, and been shamefully treated (as you know) at Philippi, we had confidence in our God, to speak unto you the gospel of God in much carefulness.

3For our exhortation was not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deceit:

4But as we were approved by God that the gospel should be committed to us: even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who proveth our hearts.

5For neither have we used, at any time, the speech of flattery, as you know; nor taken an occasion of covetousness, God is witness:

6Nor sought we glory of men, neither of you, nor of others.

7Whereas we might have been burdensome to you, as the apostles of Christ: but we became little ones in the midst of you, as if a nurse should cherish her children:

8So desirous of you, we would gladly impart unto you not only the gospel of God, but also our own souls: because you were become most dear unto us.

9For you remember, brethren, our labour and toil: working night and day, lest we should be chargeable to any of you, we preached among you the gospel of God.

10You are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and without blame, we have been to you that have believed:

11As you know in what manner, entreating and comforting you, (as a father doth his children,)

12We testified to every one of you, that you would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

13Therefore, we also give thanks to God without ceasing: because, that when you had received of us the word of the hearing of God, you received it not as the word of men, but (as it is indeed) the word of God, who worketh in you that have believed.

14For you, brethren, are become followers of the churches of God which are in Judea, in Christ Jesus: for you also have suffered the same things from your own coutrymen, even as they have from the Jews,

15Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and the prophets, and have persecuted us, and please not God, and are adversaries to all men;

16Prohibiting us to speak to the Gentiles, that they may be saved, to fill up their sins always: for the wrath of God is come upon them to the end.

17But we, brethren, being taken away from you for a short time, in sight, not in heart, have hastened the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.

18For we would have come unto you, I Paul indeed, once and again: but Satan hath hindered us.

19For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glory? Are not you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

20For you are our glory and joy.