1 Thessalonians 2

1 You yourselves [personally, as eyewitnesses] know, brothers [fellow believers, siblings in Christ], that our visit [entrance, time with you] to you was not [in no way, utterly] in vain [empty, without effect, unproductive]. word study 2 As you are aware [have knowledge of, perceive], we had already endured [suffered before, undergone hardship] suffering [pain, affliction] and shameful [dishonorable, humiliating] treatment [mistreatment, abuse] in Philippi [a city in Macedonia]. But in the face of strong [much, intense] opposition [contention, conflict], we were bold [confident, courageous] in our God [the one true deity, our heavenly Father] to speak [preach, proclaim] to you the gospel [good news, message of salvation] of God [the divine message, God’s plan of redemption]. word study 3 For our appeal [exhortation, encouragement] does not arise from [out of, originating in] deceit [error, trickery] or ulterior motives [uncleanness, impurity] or trickery [guile, cunning]. word study 4 Instead, we speak as those approved [approved and validated] by God [the supreme Judge and Savior] to be entrusted [given the responsibility, commissioned] with the gospel [the good news of salvation], not in order to please [seek the approval of] men [human beings, people] but God [the One who examines and knows our hearts], who examines [tests and proves] our hearts [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions]. word study 5 As you know [are aware, perceive], we never used words [speech, message] of flattery [excessive praise, smooth-sounding false words] or any pretext [outward showing, cloak] for greed [greediness, avarice]. God [the one true deity, Almighty] is our witness [testifier, one who sees and can testify]! word study 6 Nor did we seek [look for, try to find] praise [glory, honor, recognition] from you or from anyone else [other people, men], although as apostles [messengers, delegates] of Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] we had authority [power, right] to demand [claim, expect] it [respect, obedience]. word study 7 On the contrary [in sharp contrast], we were [became, came to be] gentle [kind, mild, tender] among you, like [as, in the manner of] a nursing mother [one who nourishes and cares for] caring for [cherishing, nurturing] her children [born ones, offspring]. word study 8 We cared so deeply [with affectionate desire, longing for you] that we were delighted [to think well of, pleased] to share with you not only the gospel [good news, message of salvation] of God [the one true deity], but our own lives [souls, very being] as well. That is how beloved [cherished, dearly loved] you have become to us [because you were dear unto us, we had begun to love you very much]. word study 9 Surely you recall [remember, bring to mind], brothers [fellow believers, siblings in Christ], our labor [hard work, toil] and toil [painful effort, struggle]. We worked [labored, were engaged in physical or mental effort] night [the time of darkness] and day [a 24-hour period] so that we would not be a burden [a heavy load, a weight] to anyone while we proclaimed [preached, heralded] to you the gospel [good news, message of salvation] of God [the one true deity, Creator of all]. word study 10 You [as our spiritual family] are witnesses, and so is God [the all-knowing Judge], of how holy [devoutly, with reverence], righteous [justly, with integrity], and blameless [without fault, unaccusably] our conduct [lifestyle, behavior] was among you who believed [trusted, had faith]. word study 11 For you know [are aware, perceive] that we treated [exhorted, comforted, and charged] each of you [individually] as a father [a male parent] treats [nurtures, cares for] his own children [born to parents]— word study 12 encouraging [urging strongly, helping to be brave] you, comforting [strengthening, giving hope to] you, and urging [exhorting, calling to action] you to walk [live, conduct your life] in a manner [way, lifestyle] worthy [appropriately, in a way that honors] of God [the one true deity], who calls [invites, summons] you into His own [personal, unique to Him] kingdom [royal power, dominion] and glory [honor, praise, admiration]. word study 13 And we continually [unceasingly, without stopping] thank God because, when you received [accepted, welcomed] the word [Logos, the divine message] of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word [message] of men [human beings], but as the true [genuine, authentic] word of God [the divine expression]—the word which is now at work [being active, effective] in you who believe [trust, have faith]. word study 14 For you, brothers [fellow believers, brethren], became imitators [followers, examples] of the churches [assemblies, communities] of God [the supreme Deity, Creator] in Judea [a region in southern Palestine] that are in Christ Jesus [united to, in a close relationship with the Messiah]. You suffered [experienced pain, endured hardship] from your own countrymen [fellow citizens, native people] the very things [same experiences, similar trials] they suffered [endured, experienced] from the Jews [people of Jewish descent, Israelites], word study 15 who killed [murdered, put to death] both the Lord Jesus [the Messiah, God’s Son] and their own [private, personal] prophets, and drove us out [persecuted, chased away] as well. They are [continue to be] displeasing [not pleasing, opposed to] to God [the Supreme Deity] and hostile [contrary, opposed] to all men [human beings, people], word study 16 hindering [forbidding, preventing] us from telling [speaking to, preaching to] the Gentiles [non-Jewish people, nations] how [in order that, to] they may be saved [rescued, delivered]. As a result [then, consequently], they continue [always, constantly] to heap up [fill up, accumulate] their sins [transgressions, rebellions] to full capacity [completely, to the limit]; the utmost [extreme, greatest] wrath [anger, indignation] has come [arrived, fallen] upon them [against them, on their heads]. word study 17 Brothers [fellow believers, brethren in Christ], although we were torn away [separated, bereaved] from you for a short time [a brief season, an hour] (in person [physically, in presence], not in heart [spiritually, in affection]), our desire [strong longing, great yearning] to see you face to face [to behold your countenance, to be present with you] was even more intense [exceedingly abundant, beyond measure]. word study 18 For we wanted [desired, had a strong intention] to come [to go, to travel] to you—indeed I, Paul [the apostle, originally named Saul], tried [made attempts, endeavored] again and again [once and again, multiple times]—but Satan [the adversary, the accuser] obstructed [hindered, blocked] us [prevented us from coming]. word study 19 After all, who is our [true and lasting] hope, our [deep and lasting] joy, our crown [symbol of honor and glory] of boasting [pride and rejoicing], if it is not you yourselves [in your presence and company] in the presence [before the face] of our Lord [Master and Savior] Jesus [God is salvation] at His [glorious and triumphant] coming [arrival and return]? word study 20 You [our pride and joy] are indeed our [this] glory [honor, praise, admiration] and our [deep and lasting] joy [a state of delight]. word study