1 Thessalonians 2:9-3:13

New International Version

⁹ Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked^(A) night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone^(B) while we preached the gospel of God to you. ¹⁰ You are witnesses,^(C) and so is God,^(D) of how holy,^(E) 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,^{(F) 12} encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy^(G) of God, who calls^(H) you into his kingdom and glory.

¹³ And we also thank God continually^(I) because, when you received the word of God,^(J) 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^(K) of God’s churches in Judea,^(L) which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people^(M) the same things those churches suffered from the Jews ¹⁵ who killed the Lord Jesus^(N) and the prophets^(O) 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^(P) so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit.^(Q) The wrath of God has come upon them at last.^[a]

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),^(R) out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.^{(S) 18} For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan^(T) blocked our way.^{(U) 19} For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown^(V) in which we will glory^(W) in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?^(X) Is it not you? ²⁰ Indeed, you are our glory^(Y) and joy.

3 So when we could stand it no longer,^(Z) we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.^{(AA) 2} We sent Timothy,^(AB) who is our brother and co-worker^(AC) in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ,^(AD) to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, ³ so that no one would be unsettled by these trials.^(AE) For you know quite well that we are destined for them.^{(AF) 4} In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.^{(AG) 5} For this reason, when I could stand it no longer,^(AH) I sent to find out about your faith.^(AI) I was afraid that in some way the tempter^(AJ) had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.^(AK)

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

⁶ But Timothy^(AL) has just now come to us from you^(AM) and has brought good news about your faith and love.^(AN) He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.^{(AO) 7} Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. ⁸ For now we really live, since you are standing firm^(AP) in the Lord. ⁹ How can we thank God enough for you^(AQ) in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?^{(AR) 10} Night and day we pray^(AS) most earnestly that we may see you again^(AT) and supply what is lacking in your faith.

¹¹ Now may our God and Father^(AU) himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. ¹² May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other^(AV) and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. ¹³ May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless^(AW) and holy in the presence of our God and Father^(AX) when our Lord Jesus comes^(AY) with all his holy ones.^(AZ)