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1 Thessalonians 2

1For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2Though we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we found boldness in our God to speak God's good news to you amid much struggle. 3For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity, nor is it made with deceit. 4Instead, just as God has tested and approved us to be entrusted with the good news, so we speak, seeking to please God, who tests our hearts, rather than people. 5For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, or with a pretext for greed—God is witness—6nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, 7though as apostles of Christ we could have made our weight felt. But we were gentle among you. As a nursing mother cherishes her own children, 8so, longing for you, we were glad to share with you not only God's good news but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: working night and day so as not to burden any of you, we proclaimed God's good news to you. 10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly and righteously and blamelessly we behaved toward you who believe. 11You know how, like a father with his own children, we dealt with each one of you, 12urging you and comforting you and solemnly charging you to walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

13And for this reason we too continually thank God: when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it as it truly is, God's word, rather than a human word. It is also at work in you who believe. 14For you, brothers, became imitators of God's assemblies in Judea in Christ Jesus, because you suffered the same things from your own people as they did from the Jews, 15who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and drove us out, and do not please God and are hostile to all people, 16hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they are always filling up their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last.

17But we, brothers, orphaned from you for a short time—in face, not in heart—were all the more eager, with great longing, to see your face. 18For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—but Satan hindered us. 19For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you as well? 20For you are our glory and joy.

Translation notes 7

2:1–4 — Coming and approval. “Coming” resumes the visit described as a “reception” in 1:9. “Not in vain” can emphasize either its fruitfulness or its genuine character. The same Greek verb links God's having tested and approved the messengers with his testing their hearts.

2:7–8 — Weight, gentleness, and family care. “Made our weight felt” can refer to asserting authority or claiming material support; verse 9 emphasizes support. The Greek base reads “gentle.” Another strongly supported reading is “infants,” giving a shift from children to a nursing mother. “Our own lives” can also be expressed as “our very selves.”

2:11–12 — Father and children. The paternal image follows the maternal one in verse 7. “Walk” describes conduct; it is not a separate instruction about travel.

2:14–16 — The Jews and opposition. This severe accusation concerns the opponents described in the passage, in contrast with the Judean assemblies they persecuted. It does not assign inherited guilt to every Jewish person. The draft retains both the group designation and the accusation's force. “Filling up” portrays sins reaching their full measure.

2:16 — Wrath at last. “At last” can also be understood as “to the full” or “to the end.” The Greek states that wrath has come; it does not identify a particular disaster. It may describe judgment already experienced or speak of the coming judgment as assured.

2:17–18 — Orphaned from you. The bereavement image expresses forced separation, following the parental images earlier in the chapter. “In face” means in bodily presence. “More than once” renders the expression “both once and twice.” The means by which Satan hindered the visit is not stated.

2:19 — Crown and coming. The crown is an image of honor and rejoicing in the community. “Coming” translates a word that can mean arrival or presence; here it looks ahead to the Lord's arrival.