1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our 1Lit entranceA1 Thess 1:9coming to you B2 Thess 1:10was not in vain, 2 but after we had already suffered and been AActs 14:5; 16:19-24; Phil 1:30mistreated in BActs 16:22-24Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God CActs 17:1-9to speak to you the DRom 1:1gospel of God amid much 1Or struggle, conflictEPhil 1:30opposition. 3 For our AActs 13:15exhortation does not come from B2 Thess 2:11error or C1 Thess 4:7impurity or 1Lit in deceitby way of D2 Cor 4:2deceit; 4 A2 Cor 2:17but just as we have been approved by God to be BGal 2:7entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, CGal 1:10not as pleasing men, but God who 1Or approvesDRom 8:27examines our hearts. 5 For we never came 1Lit in a word of flatterywith flattering speech, as you know, nor with AActs 20:33; 2 Pet 2:3a pretext for greed—BRom 1:9; 1 Thess 2:10God is witness— 6 nor did we AJohn 5:41, 44; 2 Cor 4:5seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as B1 Cor 9:1fapostles of Christ 1Lit being able towe might have 2Or be burdensomeasserted our authority. 7 But we 1Or became gentleproved to be 2Three early mss read babesA2 Tim 2:24gentle 3Lit in the midst of youamong you, BGal 4:19; 1 Thess 2:11as a nursing mother 4Or cherishestenderly cares for her own children. 8 Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to A2 Cor 12:15; 1 John 3:16impart to you not only the BRom 1:1gospel of God but also our own 1Or soulslives, because you had become 2Lit belovedvery dear to us.

9 For you recall, brethren, our APhil 4:16; 2 Thess 3:8labor and hardship, how BActs 18:3working night and day so as not to be a C1 Cor 9:4f; 2 Cor 11:9burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the DRom 1:1gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and so is A1 Thess 2:5God, B2 Cor 1:12; 1 Thess 1:5how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we 1Lit becamebehaved toward you 2Or who believebelievers; 11 just as you know how we were A1 Thess 5:14exhorting and encouraging and 1Or testifying toBLuke 16:28; 1 Thess 4:6imploring each one of you as C1 Cor 4:14; 1 Thess 2:7a father would his own children, 12 so that you would AEph 4:1walk in a manner worthy of the God who BRom 8:28; 1 Thess 5:24; 2 Thess 2:14calls you into His own kingdom and C2 Cor 4:6; 1 Pet 5:10glory.

13 For this reason we also constantly ARom 1:8; 1 Thess 1:2thank God that when you received the BRom 10:17; Heb 4:2word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it CMatt 10:20; Gal 4:14not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, DHeb 4:12which also performs its work in you who believe. 14 For you, brethren, became A1 Thess 1:6imitators of B1 Cor 7:17; 10:32the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are CGal 1:22in Judea, for DActs 17:5; 1 Thess 3:4; 2 Thess 1:4fyou also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, EHeb 10:33feven as they did from the Jews, 15 ALuke 24:20; Acts 2:23who both killed the Lord Jesus and BMatt 5:12; Acts 7:52the prophets, and 1Or persecuted usdrove us out. 2Lit andThey are not pleasing to God, 2Lit andbut hostile to all men, 16 AActs 9:23; 13:45, 50; 14:2, 5, 19; 17:5, 13; 18:12; 21:21f, 27; 25:2, 7hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles B1 Cor 10:33so that they may be saved; with the result that they always CGen 15:16; Dan 8:23; Matt 23:32fill up the measure of their sins. But D1 Thess 1:10wrath has come upon them 1Or forever or altogether; lit to the endto the utmost.

17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a 1Lit occasion of an hourshort while—A1 Cor 5:3in 2Lit faceperson, not in 3Lit heartspirit—were all the more eager with great desire B1 Thess 3:10to see your face. 18 1Or BecauseFor ARom 15:22we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, 2Lit both once and twiceBPhil 4:16more than once—and yet CMatt 4:10Satan DRom 1:13; 15:22hindered us. 19 For who is our hope or APhil 4:1joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His 1Or presenceBMatt 16:27; Mark 8:38; John 21:22; 1 Thess 3:13; 4:15; 5:23coming? 20 For you are A2 Cor 1:14our glory and joy.