1 Thessalonians 2:2-18

New International Version

² We had previously suffered^(A) and been treated outrageously in Philippi,^(B) as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.^{(C) 3} For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives,^(D) nor are we trying to trick you.^{(E) 4} On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.^(F) We are not trying to please people^(G) but God, who tests our hearts.^{(H) 5} You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed^(I)—God is our witness.^{(J) 6} We were not looking for praise from people,^(K) not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles^(L) of Christ we could have asserted our authority.^{(M) 7} Instead, we were like young children^[a] among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,^{(N) 8} so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God^(O) but our lives as well.^{(P) 9} Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked^(Q) night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone^(R) while we preached the gospel of God to you. ¹⁰ You are witnesses,^(S) and so is God,^(T) of how holy,^(U) righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. ¹¹ For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,^{(V) 12} encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy^(W) of God, who calls^(X) you into his kingdom and glory.

¹³ And we also thank God continually^(Y) because, when you received the word of God,^(Z) which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. ¹⁴ For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators^(AA) of God’s churches in Judea,^(AB) which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people^(AC) the same things those churches suffered from the Jews ¹⁵ who killed the Lord Jesus^(AD) and the prophets^(AE) and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone ¹⁶ in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles^(AF) so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit.^(AG) The wrath of God has come upon them at last.^[b]

Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians

¹⁷ But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought),^(AH) out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.^{(AI) 18} For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan^(AJ) blocked our way.^(AK)