1Th 2 | ISV | STEP | Paul Recalls His Visit to the Thessalonians For you yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a waste of time.

1 Thessalonians 2

1 Paul Recalls His Visit to the ThessaloniansFor you yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a waste of time.1Thes 1:5, 9 2 As you know, we suffered persecution and were mistreated in Philippi. Yet we were encouraged by our God to tell you his ^{▼▼Lit. God's} gospel in spite of strong opposition.Acts 16:22; 17:2; Phil 1:30; Col 2:1; 1Thes 1:5 3 For our appeal does not spring from deceit, impure motives, or trickery.2Cor 7:2; 1Thes 2:5; 2Pet 1:16 4 Rather, because we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, we speak as we do, not trying to please people but God, who tests our motives.Prov 17:3; Rom 8:27; 1Cor 7:25; 9:17; Gal 1:10; 2:7; 1Tim 1:11-12; Titus 1:3

5 As you know, we did not come with words of flattery or with a scheme to make money. God is our witness!Acts 20:33; Rom 1:9; 2Cor 2:17; 4:2; 7:2; 12:17 6 We did not seek praise from people—from you or from anyone elseJohn 5:41, 44; 12:43; John 5:41, 44, 1Cor 9:1-2, 4-6, 12, 18; John 5:41, 44, 1Cor 9:1-2, 4-6, 12, 18, 2Cor 10:1-2, 10-11; 11:9; 12:13-14; 13:10; 2Thes 3:8-9; 1Tim 5:17— 7 even though as apostles of Christ we might have made such demands. Instead, we were gentle ^{▼▼Other mss. read infants} among you, like a nursing mother tenderly caring for her own children.1Cor 2:3; 9:22; 2Cor 13:4; 2Tim 2:24 8 We cared so deeply for you that we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but our very lives. That is how dear you were to us.Rom 1:11; 15:29; 2Cor 12:15 9 You remember, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not become a burden to any of you while we proclaimed the gospel of God to you.Acts 20:34; 1Cor 4:12; 2Cor 11:9; 12:13-14; 2Thes 3:8 10 You and God are witnesses of how pure, honest, and blameless our conduct was among you who believe.2Cor 7:2; 1Thes 1:5; 2Thes 3:7 11 You know very well that we treated each of you the way a father treats ^{▼▼The Gk. lacks treats} his children. 12 We comforted and encouraged you, urging you to live in a manner worthy of the God who calls ^{▼▼Other mss. read called} you into his kingdom and glory.1Cor 1:9; Eph 4:1; Phil 1:27; Col 1:10; 1Thes 4:1; 5:24; 2Thes 2:14; 2Tim 1:9

13 How the Thessalonians Welcomed the GospelHere is another reason why we constantly give thanks to God: When you received God's word, which you heard from us, you did not accept it as the word of humans but for what it really is—the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.Matt 10:40; Gal 4:14; 1Thes 1:3; 2Pet 3:2 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in union with Christ Jesus. You suffered the same persecutions from the people of your own country as they did from those JewsActs 17:5, 13; Gal 1:22; Heb 10:33-34 15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the ^{▼▼Other mss. read their own} prophets and have persecuted us. They are displeasing to God and are the enemies of all people,Esth 3:8; Matt 5:12; Luke 13:33-34; Acts 2:23; 3:15; 5:30; 7:52 16 because they try to keep us from telling the Gentiles how they can be saved. The result is that they are always adding to the measure of their sins. However, wrath has come on them at last!Gen 15:16; Matt 23:32; Luke 11:52; Acts 13:50; 18:12; 19:9; 22:21-22

17 Timothy’s Report to PaulBrothers, although we have been separated from you for a little while—in person but not in heart—we desire with great eagerness to see you again face to face.1Cor 5:3; Col 2:5; 1Thes 3:10 18 That is why we wanted to come to you. Certainly I, Paul, time and again wanted to come, ^{▼▼Lit. time and again} but Satan blocked our way.Rom 1:13; 15:22 19 After all, who is our hope, joy, or reason for ^{▼▼Lit. crown of} boasting in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming? It is you, isn't it?Prov 16:31; 1Cor 15:23; 2Cor 1:14; Phil 2:16; 4:1; 1Thes 3:13; Rev 1:7; 22:12 20 Yes, you are our glory and joy!