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.
保羅在帖撒羅尼迦的工作
1弟兄姊妹，你們自己知道，我們那次探望你們並沒有白費。 2你們也知道，我們之前在腓立比遭受了迫害和凌辱，但仍然不顧強烈的反對，靠著我們的上帝放膽向你們傳揚祂的福音。 3我們的勸勉並非出於謬誤、不良動機或詭詐。 4我們得到了上帝的恩准來承擔福音的責任，所以才這樣傳，不是要取悅人，而是要取悅鑒察我們內心的上帝。
5你們知道，我們沒有花言巧語奉承人，也沒有心存貪念，上帝可以為我們作證。 6我們不求得到你們或其他任何人的讚揚， 7雖然身為基督的使徒，我們理當受到尊重。我們反而像母親撫育嬰兒一樣溫柔地對待你們。 8我們深愛你們，對你們有深厚的感情，不僅樂意把上帝的福音傳給你們，甚至把生命給你們也在所不惜。
9弟兄姊妹，你們一定記得我們的勞苦和艱難。我們一面向你們傳上帝的福音，一面晝夜辛勤工作，免得成為你們任何人的負擔。 10我們怎樣以聖潔、公義、純全的方式對待你們眾信徒，你們自己可以作證，上帝也可以作證。 11你們也知道，我們對待你們就像父親對待自己的孩子一樣。 12我們安慰你們，勸勉你們，督促你們，叫你們行事為人對得起上帝，祂呼召你們進入祂的國度和榮耀。
13我們也不住地感謝上帝，因為你們從我們這裡聽了上帝的道後就接受了，確信這不是人的道理，而是上帝的道。這道正在你們信的人心裡發揮作用。
14弟兄姊妹，你們的遭遇和猶太地區上帝在基督耶穌裡的眾教會的遭遇一樣。你們受到了自己同胞的迫害，他們也受到了猶太人的迫害。 15這些猶太人殺死了主耶穌和眾先知，又迫害我們。他們不但冒犯上帝，還與所有的人為敵， 16阻止我們傳福音給外族人，唯恐他們得救。這些人惡貫滿盈，上帝的烈怒終於臨到了他們頭上。
保羅渴望去帖撒羅尼迦
17弟兄姊妹，我們身體暫時與你們分離，心靈卻與你們在一起。我們非常渴望見到你們，並想方設法與你們會面。 18我們想去你們那裡，我保羅也一次又一次地想去，只是遭到撒旦的攔阻。 19我們主耶穌再來的時候，我們在祂面前的盼望、喜樂和可誇耀的冠冕是什麼呢？不就是你們嗎？ 20因為你們是我們的榮耀和喜樂。
