1 THESSALONIANS 2 [†]For you yourselves know, brothers, [1] that our  f coming to you  g was not in vain. 2[†]But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated  h at Philippi, as you know,  i we had boldness in our God  j to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much  k conflict. 3[†]For  l our appeal does not spring from  m error or  n impurity or  o any attempt to deceive, 4but just as we have been approved by God  p to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not  q to please man, but to please God  r who tests our hearts. 5[†] s For we never came with words of flattery, [2] as you know, nor with a pretext for greed— t God is witness. 6[†] u Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others,  v though we could have made  w demands as  x apostles of Christ. 7[†]But we were  y gentle [3] among you,  z like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God  a but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

9[†]For you remember, brothers,  b our labor and toil: we  c worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10[†]You are witnesses, and  d God also,  e how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11For you know how,  f like a father with his children, 12we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and  g charged  h you to walk in a manner worthy of God,  i who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

13[†]And  j we also thank God constantly [4] for this, that when you received  k the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it  l not as the word of men [5] but as what it really is, the word of God,  m which is at work in you believers. 14[†]For you, brothers,  n became imitators of  o the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For  p you suffered the same things from your own countrymen  q as they did from the Jews, [6] 15[†] r who killed both the Lord Jesus and  s the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and  t oppose all mankind 16[†] u by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always  v to fill up the measure of their sins. But  w wrath has come upon them at last! [7]

17[†]But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time,  x in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire  y to see you face to face, 18[†]because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan  z hindered us. 19[†]For what is our hope or  a joy or crown of boasting  b before our Lord Jesus at his  c coming? Is it not you? 20For you are our glory and joy.