1 Thessalonians 2

For you yourselves know, brothers, that our entrance to you has not been in vain.

But having previously suffered and having been mistreated at Philippi, just as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much struggle. \*

For our exhortation {was} neither from error, nor from impurity, nor in deceit,

but just as we have been examined by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing to men, but to God, the one examining our hearts. \*

For we were not at that time in a word of flattery, just as you know, nor in a pretext of greed—God {is} witness—

nor seeking glory from men, neither from you nor from others, \*

being able to be a burden as apostles of Christ; but we became little children in the midst of you, as if a mother might comfort her own children.

Longing for you in this manner, we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own souls. For you became beloved to us.

For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil, night and day working in order not to burden any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. \*

You and God {are} witnesses, how piously and righteously and blamelessly we were to you, the ones believing,

just as you know how, {with} each one of you, as a father his own children,

exhorting you and encouraging and testifying in order that you might walk worthily of God, the one calling you into his own kingdom and glory. \*

And because of this, we also thank God continually, that having received the word of hearing of God from us, you received it not {as} the word of men, but just as it truly is, the word of God, which is also working in you, the ones believing. \*

For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus, because the same things you also suffered from your own countrymen, just as they also from the Jews,

the ones having killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and having persecuted us and not being pleasing to God and {being} hostile to all men,

forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles so that they might be saved, so that {they} always fill up their sins. But the wrath has come upon them to the end. \*

But we, brothers, having been separated from you for the time of an hour, by face, not by heart, became extremely eager to see your face, in much desire.

For we desired to come to you—indeed I, Paul, both once and twice—but Satan hindered us.

For what {is} our hope or joy or crown of boasting? Or {is it} not also you before our Lord Jesus at his coming?

For you are our glory and joy. \*