Paul's Approach To Ministry In Thessalonica

1 For you yourselves, brothers, are conscious that our coming among you was not without effect:

1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our (a)(A)coming to you (B)was not in vain,

1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:

1 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our visit(A) with you was not without result.

1 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a waste of time.

2 But after we had first undergone much pain and been cruelly attacked as you saw, at Philippi, by the help of God we gave you the good news without fear, though everything was against us.

2 but after we had already suffered and been (C)mistreated in (D)Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God (E)to speak to you the (F)gospel of God amid much (b)(G)opposition.

2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

2 On the contrary, after we had previously suffered,(B) and we were treated outrageously in Philippi,(C) as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition.

2 As you know, we suffered persecution and were mistreated in Philippi. Yet we were encouraged by our God to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.

3 For our witness does not come from error or from an unclean heart or from deceit:

3 For our (H)exhortation does not come from (I)error or (J)impurity or (c)by way of (K)deceit;

3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:

3 For our exhortation didn’t come from error or impurity(D) or an intent to deceive.(E)

3 For our appeal to you does not spring from deceit, impure motives, or trickery.

4 But even as the good news was given to us by the approval of God, so we give it out; not as pleasing men, but God by whom our hearts are tested.

4 (L)but just as we have been approved by God to be (M)entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, (N)not as pleasing men, but God who (d)(O)examines our hearts.

4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

4 Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted(F) with the gospel,(G) so we speak, not to please men, but rather God,(H) who examines our hearts.(I)

4 Rather, because we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, we speak as we do, not trying to please people but God, who tests our motives.

5 For it is common knowledge among you that we never made use of smooth-sounding false words, and God is witness that at no time were we secretly desiring profit for ourselves,

5 For we never came (e)with flattering speech, as you know, nor with (P)a pretext for greed—(Q)God is witness—

5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

5 For we never used flattering speech, as you know, or had greedy(J) motives(K)—God is our witness(L)

5 As you know, we did not come with flattering words or with a scheme to make money. God is our witness!

6 Or looking for glory from men, from you or from others, when we might have made ourselves a care to you as Apostles of Christ.

6 nor did we (R)seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as (S)apostles of Christ (f)we might have (g)asserted our authority.

6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

6 and we didn’t seek glory(M) from people, either from you or from others.

6 We did not seek praise from people from you or from anyone else

7 But we were gentle among you, like a woman caring for her little ones:

7 But we (h)proved to be (i)(T)gentle (j)among you, (U)as a nursing mother (k)tenderly cares for her own children.

7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

7 Although we could have been a burden as Christ’s apostles,(N) instead we were gentle(a) among you, as a nursing mother nurtures her own children.

7 even though as apostles of the Messiah we might have made such demands. Instead, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother tenderly caring for her own children.

8 Even so, being full of loving desire for you, we took delight in giving you not only God's good news, but even our lives, because you were dear to us.

8 Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to (V)impart to you not only the (W)gospel of God but also our own (l)lives, because you had become (m)very dear to us.

8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

8 We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

8 We cared so deeply for you that we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but our very lives. That is how dear you were to us.

9 For you have the memory, my brothers, of our trouble and care; how, working night and day, so that we might not be a trouble to any of you, we gave you the good news of God.

9 For you recall, brethren, our (X)labor and hardship, how (Y)working night and day so as not to be a (Z)burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the (AA)gospel of God.

9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

9 For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers. Working(O) night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God’s gospel to you.

9 Brothers, you remember our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not become a burden to any of you while we proclaimed the gospel of God to you.

10 You are witnesses, with God, how holy and upright and free from all evil was our way of life among you who have faith;

10 You are witnesses, and so is (AB)God, (AC)how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we (n)behaved toward you (o)believers;

10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

10 You are witnesses,(P) and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously,(Q) and blamelessly(R) we conducted ourselves with you believers.

10 You and God are witnesses of how pure, honest, and blameless our conduct was among you who believe.

11 Even as you saw how, like a father with his children, we were teaching and comforting you all, and giving witness,

11 just as you know how we were (AD)exhorting and encouraging and (p)(AE)imploring each one of you as (AF)a father would his own children,

11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

11 As you know, like a father with his own children,(S)

11 You know very well that we treated each of you the way a father treats his children.

12 So that your lives might be pleasing to God, who has given you a part in his kingdom and his glory.

12 so that you would (AG)walk in a manner worthy of the God who (AH)calls you into His own kingdom and (AI)glory.

12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

12 we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God,(T) who calls you into His own kingdom(U) and glory.(V)

12 We comforted and encouraged you, urging you to live in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

The Thessalonians' Response To Paul's Message

13 And for this cause we still give praise to God, that, when the word came to your ears through us, you took it, not as the word of man, but, as it truly is, the word of God, which has living power in you who have faith.

13 For this reason we also constantly (AJ)thank God that when you received the (AK)word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it (AL)not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, (AM)which also performs its work in you who believe.

13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

13 This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the message about God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is,(W) the message of God,(X) which also works effectively in you believers.

13 Here is another reason why we constantly give thanks to God: When you received God's word, which you heard from us, you did not accept it as the word of humans but for what it really is the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.

14 For you, my brothers, took as your examples the churches of God which are in Judaea in Christ Jesus; because you underwent the same things from your countrymen as they did from the Jews;

14 For you, brethren, became (AN)imitators of (AO)the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are (AP)in Judea, for (AQ)you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, (AR)even as they did from the Jews,

14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

14 For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea,(Y) since you have also suffered(Z) the same things from people of your own country,(AA) just as they did from the Jews

14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in union with the Messiah Jesus. You suffered the same persecutions from the people of your own country as they did from those Jews

15 Who put to death the Lord Jesus and the prophets, violently driving us out; who are unpleasing to God and against all men;

15 (AS)who both killed the Lord Jesus and (AT)the prophets, and (q)drove us out. (r)They are not pleasing to God, (s)but hostile to all men,

15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

15 who killed both the Lord Jesus(AB) and the prophets and persecuted us;(AC) they displease God and are hostile to everyone,

15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, who have persecuted us, and who please neither God nor any group of people,

16 Who, to make the measure of their sins complete, kept us from giving the word of salvation to the Gentiles: but the wrath of God is about to come on them in the fullest degree.

16 (AU)hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles (AV)so that they may be saved; with the result that they always (AW)fill up the measure of their sins. But (AX)wrath has come upon them (t)to the utmost.

16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

16 hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. As a result, they are always completing the number of their sins,(AD) and wrath has overtaken them at last.(b)

16 as they try to keep us from telling the gentiles how they can be saved. As a result, they are constantly adding to the number of sins they have committed. However, wrath has overtaken them at last!

Paul's Desire To Revisit The Thessalonians

17 But we, my brothers, being away from you for a short time, in body but not in heart, had all the more desire to see your face;

17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a (u)short while—(AY)in (v)person, not in (w)spirit—were all the more eager with great desire (AZ)to see your face.

17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.

17 But as for us, brothers, after we were forced to leave you for a short time (in person, not in heart(AE)), we greatly desired and made every effort to return(AF) and see you face to face.

17 Brothers, although we have been separated from you for a little while in person but not in heart we eagerly desire to see you again face to face.

18 For which reason we made attempts to come to you, even I, Paul, once and again; but Satan kept us from coming.

18 (x)For (BA)we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, (y)(BB)more than once—and yet (BC)Satan (BD)hindered us.

18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

18 So we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan(AG) hindered us.

18 That is why we wanted to come to you. Certainly I, Paul, wanted to come time and again, but Satan blocked our way.

19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of glory? Are not even you, before our Lord Jesus, at his coming?

19 For who is our hope or (BE)joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His (z)(BF)coming?

19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

19 For who is our hope or joy(AH) or crown(AI) of boasting(AJ) in the presence of our Lord(AK) Jesus at His coming?(AL) Is it not you?(AM)

19 After all, who is our hope, joy, or reason for rejoicing in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming? It is you, isn't it?

20 For you are our glory and our joy.

20 For you are (BG)our glory and joy.

20 For ye are our glory and joy.

20 For you are our glory(AN) and joy!

20 Yes, you are our glory and joy!

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain

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