WE ARE NOT TRYING TO PLEASE MEN BUT GOD

 

1 Thessalonians 2

You know, brothers, that out visit to you was not a failure.

2 We had previously suffered

And been insulted in Philippi, as you know,

But with the help of our God

We dared to tell you His Gospel

IN SPITE OF STRONG OPPOSITION.

3 For the Appeal we make does not spring from Error

Or Impure Motives,

Nor are we trying to Trick you.

4 On the Contrary,

We speak as men approved by God

To be Entrusted with the Gospel.

WE ARE NOT TRYING TO PLEASE MEN BUT GOD,

WHO TESTS OUR HEARTS.

5 You know we never used Flattery,

Nor did we put on a Mask to cover up Greed--

GOD IS OUR WITNESS.

6 WE WERE NOT LOOKING FOR PRAISE FROM MEN,

NOT FROM YOU OR ANYONE ELSE.

7 As apostles of Christ

We could have been a Burden to you,

But we were Gentle among you,

Like a mother caring for her little children.

8 We loved you so much

That we were delighted to share with you

Not only the Gospel of God

But our lives as well,

Because you had become so dear to us.

9 Surely you remember, brothers,

Our Toil and Hardship;

We worked night and day

In order not to be a Burden to anyone

While we preached the Gospel of God to you.

10 You are Witnesses, and so is God,

Of how Holy, righteous and Blameless

We were among you who Believed.

11 For you know that we dealt with each of you

As a father deals with his own children,

12 Encouraging, Comforting and Urging you

To live lives Worthy of God,

WHO CALLS YOU INTO HIS KINGDOM AND GLORY.

13 And we also thank God continually

Because, when you received the Word of God,

Which yo heard from us,

You accepted it not as the word of men,

BUT AS IT ACTUALLY IS, THE WORD OF GOD,

WHICH IS AT WORK IN YOU WHO BELIEVE.

14 For you, brothers,

Became Imitators of God's churches in Judea,

Which are in Christ Jesus:

YOU SUFFERED FROM YOUR OWN COUNTRYMEN

THE SAME THINGS THOSE CHURCHES SUFFERED FROM THE JEWS,

15 Who Killed the Lord Jesus and the Prophets

And also drove us out.

THEY DISPLEASE GOD AND ARE HOSTILE TO ALL MEN

16 IN THEIR EFFORT

TO KEEP US FROM SPEAKING TO THE GENTILES

SO THAT THEY MAY BE SAVED.

IN THIS WAY

THEY ALWAYS HEAP UP THEIR SINS TO THE LIMIT.

THE WRATH OF GOD HAS COME UPON THEM AT LAST.

Paul's Longing To See The Thessalonians

17 But, brothers,

When we were torn away from you for a short time

(In person, not in thought),

OUT OF OUR INTENSE LONGING

WE MADE EVERY EFFORT TO SEE YOU.

18 For we wanted to come to you--

Certainly I, Paul, did, again and again--

BUT SATAN STOPPED US.

19 For what is our Hope, or Joy, or the Crown

In which we will Gory in the Presence of our Lord Jesus

When He comes?

IS IT NOT YOU?

20 INDEED YOU ARE OUR GLORY AND JOY.

(1 Thessalonians 2)