Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica
1You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. 2We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 3For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 5You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7Instead, we were like young children2:7 Some manuscripts were gentle among you.
Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 9Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, 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. 10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
13And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. 14For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews 15who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone 16in 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.2:16 Or them fully
Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians
17But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. 18For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. 19For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
保罗在帖撒罗尼迦的工作
1弟兄姊妹，你们自己知道，我们那次探望你们并没有白费。 2你们也知道，我们之前在腓立比遭受了迫害和凌辱，但仍然不顾强烈的反对，靠着我们的上帝放胆向你们传扬祂的福音。 3我们的劝勉并非出于谬误、不良动机或诡诈。 4我们得到了上帝的恩准来承担福音的责任，所以才这样传，不是要取悦人，而是要取悦鉴察我们内心的上帝。
5你们知道，我们没有花言巧语奉承人，也没有心存贪念，上帝可以为我们作证。 6我们不求得到你们或其他任何人的赞扬， 7虽然身为基督的使徒，我们理当受到尊重。我们反而像母亲抚育婴儿一样温柔地对待你们。 8我们深爱你们，对你们有深厚的感情，不仅乐意把上帝的福音传给你们，甚至把生命给你们也在所不惜。
9弟兄姊妹，你们一定记得我们的劳苦和艰难。我们一面向你们传上帝的福音，一面昼夜辛勤工作，免得成为你们任何人的负担。 10我们怎样以圣洁、公义、纯全的方式对待你们众信徒，你们自己可以作证，上帝也可以作证。 11你们也知道，我们对待你们就像父亲对待自己的孩子一样。 12我们安慰你们，劝勉你们，督促你们，叫你们行事为人对得起上帝，祂呼召你们进入祂的国度和荣耀。
13我们也不住地感谢上帝，因为你们从我们这里听了上帝的道后就接受了，确信这不是人的道理，而是上帝的道。这道正在你们信的人心里发挥作用。
14弟兄姊妹，你们的遭遇和犹太地区上帝在基督耶稣里的众教会的遭遇一样。你们受到了自己同胞的迫害，他们也受到了犹太人的迫害。 15这些犹太人杀死了主耶稣和众先知，又迫害我们。他们不但冒犯上帝，还与所有的人为敌， 16阻止我们传福音给外族人，唯恐他们得救。这些人恶贯满盈，上帝的烈怒终于临到了他们头上。
保罗渴望去帖撒罗尼迦
17弟兄姊妹，我们身体暂时与你们分离，心灵却与你们在一起。我们非常渴望见到你们，并想方设法与你们会面。 18我们想去你们那里，我保罗也一次又一次地想去，只是遭到撒旦的拦阻。 19我们主耶稣再来的时候，我们在祂面前的盼望、喜乐和可夸耀的冠冕是什么呢？不就是你们吗？ 20因为你们是我们的荣耀和喜乐。
