1For yourselves , brethren , know our entering in unto you , that it hath not been found vain : 2but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as ye know , at Philippi , we waxed bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God in much conflict. 3For our exhortation is not of error , nor of uncleanness, nor in guile : 4but even as we have been approved of God to be intrusted with the gospel , so we speak ; not as pleasing men , but God who proveth our hearts . 5For neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know , nor a cloak of covetousness , God is witness ; 6nor seeking glory of men , neither from you nor from others, when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ . 7But we were gentle in the midst of you , as when a nurse cherisheth her own children : 8even so , being affectionately desirous of you , we were well pleased to impart unto you , not the gospel of God only , but also our own souls , because ye were become very dear to us .
The Reception of the Gospel
9For ye remember , brethren , our labor and travail : working night and day , that we might not burden any of you , we preached unto you the gospel of God . 10Ye are witnesses , and God also , how holily and righteously and unblamably we behaved ourselves toward you that believe : 11as ye know how we dealt with each one of you , as a father with his own children , exhorting you , and encouraging you , and testifying, 12to the end that ye should walk worthily of God , who calleth you into his own kingdom and glory . 13And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that , when ye received from us the word of the message , even the word of God , ye accepted it not as the word of men , but , as it is in truth, the word of God , which also worketh in you that believe .
Paul's Longing to See the Thessalonians
14For ye , brethren , became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judæa in Christ Jesus : for ye also suffered the same things of your own countrymen , even as they did of the Jews ; 15who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets , and drove out us , and please not God , and are contrary to all men ; 16forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved ; to fill up their sins always : but the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost . 17But we , brethren , being bereaved of you for a short season , in presence not in heart , endeavored the more exceedingly to see your face with great desire : 18because we would fain have come unto you , I Paul once and again ; and Satan hindered us . 19For what is our hope , or joy , or crown of glorying ? Are not even ye , before our Lord Jesus at his coming ? 20For ye are our glory and our joy .