1 Thessalonians 2

Authenticity in Proclamation 1 Thessalonians 2:3–6

³Verse 3. For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception. ⁴Verse 4. But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts. ⁵Verse 5. For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness), ⁶Verse 6. nor seeking glory from men (neither from you nor from others), when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ.

Gentle Approach to Discipleship 1 Thessalonians 2:7–10

⁷Verse 7. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children. ⁸Verse 8. Even so, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you, not the Good News of God only, but also our own souls, because you had become very dear to us. ⁹Verse 9. For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail; for working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the Good News of God. ¹⁰Verse 10. You are witnesses with God, how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who believe.

Parental Guidance 1 Thessalonians 2:11–12

¹¹Verse 11. As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a father does his own children, ¹²Verse 12. to the end that you should walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own Kingdom and glory.

Response to the Message 1 Thessalonians 2:13–16

¹³Verse 13. For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe. ¹⁴Verse 14. For you, brothers, became imitators of the assemblies of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus; for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews; ¹⁵Verse 15. who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out, and didn’t please God, and are contrary to all men;

¹⁶Verse 16. forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always. But wrath has come on them to the uttermost.

Longing for Connection 1 Thessalonians 2:17–20

¹⁷Verse 17. But we, brothers, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence, not in heart, tried even harder to see your face with great desire, ¹⁸Verse 18. because we wanted to come to you—indeed, I, Paul, once and again—but Satan hindered us. ¹⁹Verse 19. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn’t it even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming? ²⁰Verse 20. For you are our glory and our joy.