1 Thessalonians 2

2 ¹ For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not in vain. ² But even after we had suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we found courage in our Father to tell you his good news in the face of great opposition. ³ For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity, nor are we trying to deceive anyone. ⁴ Instead, just as we have been approved by our Father to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak — not to please people, but to please our Father, who tests our hearts. ⁵ For we never came with flattering words, as you know, nor as a cover for greed — our Father is our witness. ⁶ Nor did we seek praise from people, whether from you or from others, though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. ⁷ But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring tenderly for her own children. ⁸ So, longing for you with deep affection, we were glad to share with you not only the good news of our Father but our very own selves, because you had become so dear to us. ⁹ For you remember, brothers and sisters, our labor and toil: we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you while we proclaimed to you the good news of our Father. ¹⁰ You are witnesses, and so is our Father, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was toward you who believe. ¹¹ For you know how, like a father with his own children, we encouraged each one of you, comforted you, and urged you ¹² to live lives worthy of our Father, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

¹³ And we also thank our Father constantly for this: that when you received the word of our Father, which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message but as what it truly is — his word, which is at work in you who believe. ¹⁴ For you, brothers and sisters, followed the example of our Father's churches in Christ Jesus in Judea, since you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, ¹⁵ who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They displease our Father and oppose everyone, ¹⁶ hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they might be saved. In this way they constantly fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last.

Longing to See You Again

¹⁷ But when we were torn away from you, brothers and sisters, for a short time — in person, not in heart — we longed all the more eagerly, with great desire, to see you face to face. ¹⁸ For we wanted to come to you — I, Paul, tried again and again — but Satan blocked our way. ¹⁹ For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown we will boast about before our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? ²⁰ Yes, you are our glory and joy.