Paul's Ministry to the Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 2

1 For you yourselves know, brothers, 1 that our f coming to you g was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated h at Philippi, as you know, i we had boldness in our God j to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much k conflict. 3 For l our appeal does not spring from m error or n impurity or o any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God p to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not q to please man, but to please God r who tests our hearts. 5 s For we never came with words of flattery, 2 as you know, nor with a pretext for greed - t God is witness. 6 u Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, v though we could have made w demands as x apostles of Christ. 7 But we were y gentle 3 among you, z like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God a but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

9 For you remember, brothers, b our labor and toil: we c worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and d God also, e how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11 For you know how, f like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and g charged h you to walk in a manner worthy of God, i who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

13 And j we also thank God constantly 4 for this, that when you received k the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it l not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, m which is at work in you believers. 14 For you, brothers, n became imitators of o the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For p you suffered the same things from your own countrymen q as they did from the Jews, 15 r who killed both the Lord Jesus and s the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and t oppose all mankind 16 u by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved - so as always v to fill up the measure of their sins. But w God's wrath has come upon them at last! 5

  1. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 1:9
    For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.
  2. Cross References
    2 Thessalonians 1:10
    When he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.
  3. Cross References
    Acts 16:22 - 24
    The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.
  4. Cross References
    Acts 4:13
    Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
  5. Cross References
    Acts 17:2 - 9
    And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures.
  6. Cross References
    Philippians 1:30
    Engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
  7. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 2:17
    For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
  8. Cross References
    2 Thessalonians 2:11
    Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false.
  9. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 4:7
    For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.
  10. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 4:2
    But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.
  11. Cross References
    Galatians 2:7
    On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised
  12. Cross References
    Galatians 1:10
    For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
  13. Cross References
    Psalms 17:3
    You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
    Romans 8:27
    And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
  14. Cross References
    Acts 20:33
    I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
  15. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 2:10
    You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.
    Romans 1:9
    For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you
  16. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 4:5
    For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.
    John 5:41
    I do not receive glory from people.
  17. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 9:4
    Do we not have the right to eat and drink?
    2 Thessalonians 3:9
    It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.
    Philemon 1:8 - 9
    Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required.
  18. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 2:9
    For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
    2 Corinthians 11:9
    And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.
  19. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 9:1
    Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?
  20. Cross References
    2 Timothy 2:24
    And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil.
    1 Corinthians 14:20
    Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.
  21. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 2:11
    For you know how, like a father with his children.
    Isaiah 49:23
    Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. With their faces to the ground they shall bow down to you, and lick the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord ; those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.
    Isaiah 60:16
    You shall suck the milk of nations; you shall nurse at the breast of kings; and you shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
  22. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 12:15
    I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
  23. Cross References
    2 Thessalonians 3:8
    Nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.
    Philippians 4:16
    Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.
  24. Cross References
    Acts 18:3
    And because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.
  25. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 2:5
    For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed - God is witness.
  26. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 1:5
    Because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
  27. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 2:7
    But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.
    1 Corinthians 4:14
    I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
  28. Cross References
    Ephesians 4:17
    Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
  29. Cross References
    Ephesians 4:1
    I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.
  30. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 5:24
    He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
    2 Thessalonians 2:14
    To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
    1 Peter 5:10
    And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
    Romans 8:28
    And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
  31. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 1:2 - 3
    We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers.
  32. Cross References
    Romans 10:17
    So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
  33. Cross References
    Galatians 4:14
    And though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
    Matthew 10:20
    For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
  34. Cross References
    Hebrews 4:12
    For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
  35. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 1:6
    And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit.
  36. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 7:17
    Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.
  37. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 3:4
    For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.
    Acts 17:5
    But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.
    2 Thessalonians 1:4 - 5
    Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.
  38. Cross References
    Hebrews 10:33 - 34
    Sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.
  39. Cross References
    Luke 24:20
    And how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.
  40. Cross References
    Jeremiah 2:30
    In vain have I struck your children; they took no correction; your own sword devoured your prophets like a ravening lion.
    Matthew 23:29 - 34
    Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous.
    Matthew 5:12
    Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
  41. Cross References
    Esther 3:8
    Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king's laws, so that it is not to the king's profit to tolerate them.
  42. Cross References
    Acts 13:45
    But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were fil...
    Acts 13:50
    But the Jews incited the devout women of high s...
    Acts 14:2
    But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentile...
    Acts 14:19
    But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and hav...
    Acts 17:5
    But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wick...
    Acts 17:13
    But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned tha...
    Acts 18:12
    But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Je...
    Acts 22:21 - 22
    And he said to me, 'Go, for I will send you far...
  43. Cross References
    Genesis 15:16
    And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.
  44. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 1:10
    And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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