1 Thessalonians 2
The full text of 1 Thessalonians 2 in the Trinity Bible Version — clear modern English, translated from the original Greek. Free to read.
1 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not in vain.
2 Instead, although we had already suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, we found the courage in our God to tell you God's gospel in the face of strong opposition.
3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.
4 On the contrary, since God approved us and entrusted us with the gospel, that is how we speak—not to please people but God, who tests our hearts.
5 For we never used flattering words, as you know, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness.
6 We did not seek praise from people—not from you or anyone else—
7 though as apostles of Christ we could have made our weight felt. Instead, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her own children.
8 So, longing for you with such affection, we were glad to share with you not only God's gospel but our own lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.
9 You remember, brothers and sisters, our labor and hardship: we worked night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you while we preached God's gospel to you.
10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly, justly, and blamelessly we behaved toward you who believe.
11 For you know that we treated each one of you as a father treats his own children—
12 encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
13 And so we also thank God constantly, because when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message but as what it truly is—the word of God, which is also at work in you who believe.
14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God's churches in Judea that are in Christ Jesus, because you suffered the same things from your own people as they did from the Jews,
15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and drove us out. They displease God and oppose everyone,
16 by trying to stop us from speaking to the Gentiles so they may be saved. In this way they constantly fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last.
17 But when we were torn away from you, brothers and sisters, for a short time—in person, not in heart—we longed all the more eagerly and with deep desire to see you face to face.
18 For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan blocked our way.
19 For who is our hope, our joy, or our crown to boast in before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?
20 Yes, you are our glory and our joy.
Translation notes (10)
- 1 Thessalonians 2:2a The Greek phrase en pollo agoni, translated as 'strong opposition,' uses language that suggests an athletic or military struggle—a hard-fought contest.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:3a The Greek word akatharsias, translated as 'impure motives,' can mean moral impurity in general or, in the context of preaching, self-serving or sensual motives.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:5a The phrase 'Put on a mask to cover up greed' translates the Greek en prophasei pleonexias, which means using the message as a pretext or front for greed.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:7a Some Greek manuscripts read epioi, meaning 'gentle,' while others read nepoi, meaning 'little children, infants.' The two words differ by a single letter, with the 'n' in nepoi possibly doubled from the preceding word. While nepoi has strong early support and would yield 'we were little children among you,' 'gentle' fits the nursing-mother image that follows. This translation follows the reading 'gentle' and notes the variant.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:12a The phrase 'live lives' translates the Greek word peripatein, which literally means 'to walk.' This is a common Greek and Hebrew image for conduct.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:14a The Greek phrase ton Ioudaion, translated as 'the Jews,' here refers specifically to those Judean authorities who opposed the early believers, not to the Jewish people as a whole. Paul, who was himself a Jew, names the particular opponents of these churches.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:16a The meaning of the last clause is debated. The Greek phrase eis telos may mean 'at last,' 'completely,' or 'until the end.' The Greek verb ephthasen, translated 'has come,' is an aorist tense, which may describe a present certainty or look ahead to final judgment.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:17a The Greek word aporphanisthentes, translated as 'torn away,' literally means 'orphaned.' Paul pictures himself as bereaved of them, like a parent separated from children.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:18a The phrase 'again and again' translates the Greek kai hapax kai dis, which literally means 'both once and twice,' indicating more than once.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:19a The word 'coming' translates the Greek word parousia, a key term in these letters for Christ's arrival or royal presence at the end.
About this translation
The Trinity Bible Version (TBV) is Trinity Bible's own modern English translation, worked directly from the original Greek and honest to the earliest manuscripts. It was completed in 2026 — the most modern English Bible translation — and is exclusive to Trinity Bible. Every chapter, including all of 1 Thessalonians, is free to read here on the web.
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