Paul’s Work in Thessalonica

2 Brothers and sisters, you ·know [yourselves know; are well aware that] our ·visit [coming] to you was not ·a failure [without results; in vain; Acts 17:1–9]. ² Before we came to you, we suffered and were ·insulted [mistreated] in Philippi [^Ca city in Macedonia (1:7); Acts 16:6–40], as you know. But ·our God helped us to be brave and [^Lwe were emboldened in our God] to tell you ·his Good News [the Gospel of God] in spite of great opposition. ³ [^LFor] Our ·appeal [encouragement; exhortation] does not come from ·lies [error] or ·wrong reasons [false motives; ^Limpurity], nor ·were we trying to trick you [with guile/deceit]. ⁴ But we speak the ·Good News [Gospel] because God ·tested [approved] us and ·trusted us to do [or entrusted us with] it. When we speak, we are not trying to please people, but God, who ·tests [examines; approves] our hearts. ⁵ You know that we never ·tried to influence you by saying nice things about you [^Lcame with words of flattery]. ·We were not trying to get your money; we had no selfishness to hide from you [^L…nor with hidden motives of greed]. God ·knows that this is true [^Lis (our) witness]. ⁶ We were not looking for human ·praise [glory], from you or anyone else, ⁷ even though as apostles of Christ we could have ·used our authority over you [thrown our weight around; exercised our prerogatives].

But we were very gentle with you,^[a] like a ·mother [nurse; nursing mother] caring for her [^Lown] little children. ⁸ Because we ·loved [had such affection for/devotion to] you, we were ·happy [pleased; delighted] to share not only God’s ·Good News [Gospel] with you, but ·even [also] our own lives. You had become so ·dear [beloved] to us! ⁹ Brothers and sisters, ·I know [surely] you remember our hard work and ·difficulties [hardship; labor]. We worked night and day so we would not burden any of you while we preached God’s ·Good News [Gospel] to you.

¹⁰ When we were with you, we lived in a holy and ·honest [righteous; just] way, ·without fault [blameless; innocent]. You ·know this is true, and so does [^Lare witnesses, and so is] God. ¹¹ You know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children. ¹² We ·encouraged [exhorted; urged] you, we ·urged [encouraged; comforted] you, and we ·insisted [appealed/bore witness to you] that you ·live good lives for [^Lwalk worthy of] God, who calls you to his ·glorious kingdom [^Lkingdom and glory].

¹³ ·Also [^LFor this reason], we always thank God because when you ·heard his message [received the message you heard] from us, you accepted it not as ·merely human words [a human message], but for what it truly is—·the word of [a message from] God, which ·works in [transforms] you who believe. ¹⁴ [^LFor] Brothers and sisters, ·your experiences have been like those [or you became imitators] of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea [^Cthe original church in Jerusalem and others nearby]. You suffered the same things from the people of your own country, as they suffered from the Jews ¹⁵ who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and ·forced us to leave that country [drove us out; or persecuted us]. They do not please God and are ·against [hostile/opposed to] all people. ¹⁶ ·They try [or …because they try; or …by trying] to stop us from ·teaching [speaking/preaching to] the Gentiles so they may be saved. By doing this, they are ·increasing [filling/heaping up] their sins to the limit. The ·anger [wrath] of God ·has come to [or has drawn near to; or will overtake] them ·at last [or completely; or until the end (of the age)].

Paul Wants to Visit Them Again

¹⁷ Brothers and sisters, though we were ·separated [torn away; orphaned] from you for a short time, ·our thoughts were still with you [physically, not spiritually…; ^Lin face, not in heart…]. We wanted very much to see you and tried hard to do so. ¹⁸ We wanted to come to you. I, Paul, tried to come ·more than once [again and again; ^Lboth once and twice], but Satan ·stopped [hindered; prevented] us. ¹⁹ ·You are [^LFor who is…?] our hope, our joy, and the crown we will ·take pride in [boast about] when our Lord Jesus Christ comes. ²⁰ Truly you are our glory and our joy.