1 Thessalonians 2
1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entering in unto you, that it hath not been
found vain:
2 but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as ye know, at
Philippi, we waxed bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God in much
conflict.
3 For our exhortation [is] not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
4 but even as we have been approved of God to be intrusted with the gospel, so
we speak; not as pleasing men, but God who proveth our hearts.
5 For neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know, nor
a cloak of covetousness, God is witness;
6 nor seeking glory of men, neither from you nor from others, when we might have
claimed authority as apostles of Christ.
7 But we were gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherisheth her own
children:
8 even so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were well pleased to impart
unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were
become very dear to us.
9 For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: working night and day, that
we might not burden any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
10 Ye are witnesses, and God [also], how holily and righteously and unblameably
we behaved ourselves toward you that believe:
11 as ye know how we [dealt with] each one of you, as a father with his own
children, exhorting you, and encouraging [you], and testifying,
12 to the end that ye should walk worthily of God, who calleth you into his own
kingdom and glory.
13 And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received
from us the word of the message, [even the word] of God, ye accepted [it] not
[as] the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also
worketh in you that believe.
14 For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judaea
in Christ Jesus: for ye also suffered the same things of your own countrymen,
even as they did of the Jews;
15 who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove out us, and
pleased not God, and are contrary to all men;
16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up
their sins always: but the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
17 But we, brethren, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence not
in heart, endeavored the more exceedingly to see your face with great desire:
18 because we would fain have come unto you, I Paul once and again; and Satan
hindered us.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even ye, before
our Lord Jesus at his coming?
20 For ye are our glory and our joy.