1 Thessalonians 2 For yourselves know, brethren, our entrance among you, that it was not in vain.

Living_Oracles⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ For yourselves know, brethren, our entrance among you, that it was not in vain. ² For although we had before suffered, and were shamefully handled, as you know, at Philippi, we were bold, through our God, to speak to you the gospel of God, amidst a great combat. ³ Besides, our exhortation was not from error, nor from impurity, nor with guile. ⁴ But as we were approved of God, to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who tries our hearts. ⁵ For neither did we, at any time, use flattering words, or a pretext for covetousness; God is witness. ⁶ Neither sought we honor from men; neither from you, nor from others. We might have acted with authority, as Apostles of Christ; ⁷ but we were gentle among you, as a nurse cherishes her children- ⁸ so, having a strong affection for you, we were well pleased to have imparted to you, not only the gospel of God, but our own souls, also; because you were become dear to us. ⁹ For your remember, brethren, our labor and toil; that laboring night and day; that we might not be chargeable to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. ¹⁰ You were witnesses, and God, also, in what a holy, and just, and blameless manner, we acted toward you that believe. ¹¹ As, also, you know, how we addressed every one of you as a father his own children, exhorting and comforting you; ¹² and testifying that you should walk worthy of God, who has called you to his kingdom of glory. ¹³ On this account, also, we give thanks to God, without ceasing, that when you received from us this message of God, you embraced not the word of men; but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which, indeed, works effectually in you who believe. ¹⁴ For you, brethren, became imitators of the congregations of God which are in Judea, in Christ Jesus; because you also have suffered like things from your own countrymen, even as they have from the Jews, ¹⁵ who both killed the Lord, and the prophets, and have greatly persecuted us, and do not please God, and are contrary to all men; ¹⁶ hindering us to speak to the Gentiles, that they may be saved; so that they fill up their iniquities always: but the wrath of God is coming upon them at length. ¹⁷ Now, we, brethren, being separated from you for a short time, in presence, not in heart, the more abundantly endeavored, with great desire, to see your face. ¹⁸ Therefore, we would have come to you (even I, Paul,) once and again, but the adversary hindered us. ¹⁹ For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, at his coming? ²⁰ You, indeed, are our glory and our joy.