Paul's Ministry to the Thessalonians
1
For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain.
2
But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at a Philippi, as you know, we were b bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.
3
c For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.
4
But as d we have been approved by God e to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, f not as pleasing men, but God g who tests our hearts.
5
For h neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness - i God is witness.
6
j Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when k we might have l made demands m as apostles of Christ.
7
But n we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
8
So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased o to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also p our own lives, because you had become dear to us.
9
For you remember, brethren, our q labor and toil; for laboring night and day, r that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.
10
s You are witnesses, and God also, t how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;
11
as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children,
12
u that you would walk worthy of God v who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
13
For this reason we also thank God w without ceasing, because when you x received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it y not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively z works in you who believe.
14
For you, brethren, became imitators a of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For b you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans,
15
c who killed both the Lord Jesus and d their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God e and are contrary to all men,
16
f forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always g to fill up the measure of their sins; h but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.
-
Cross References
Acts 14:5
And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them.
Acts 16:19 - 24
But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.
Philippians 1:30
Having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.
-
Cross References
Acts 17:1 - 9
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
-
Cross References
2 Corinthians 7:2
Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one.
-
Cross References
1 Corinthians 7:25
Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy.
-
Cross References
Titus 1:3
But has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior.
-
Cross References
Galatians 1:10
For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
-
Cross References
Proverbs 17:3
The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts.
-
Cross References
2 Corinthians 2:17
For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
-
Cross References
Romans 1:9
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.
1 Thessalonians 2:10
You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe.
-
Cross References
1 Timothy 5:17
Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
-
Cross References
1 Corinthians 9:4
Do we have no right to eat and drink?
-
Cross References
2 Corinthians 11:9
And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.
-
Cross References
1 Corinthians 9:1
Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
-
Cross References
1 Corinthians 2:3
I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
-
Cross References
Romans 1:11
For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established -
-
Cross References
2 Corinthians 12:15
And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.
1 John 3:16
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
-
Cross References
Acts 18:3
So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed...
Acts 20:34
Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have ...
Acts 20:35
"I have shown you in every way, by laboring lik...
1 Corinthians 4:12
And we labor, working with our own hands. Being...
2 Thessalonians 3:7
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow...
2 Thessalonians 3:8
Nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, b...
-
Cross References
2 Corinthians 12:13
For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!
-
Cross References
2 Corinthians 1:12
For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
1 Thessalonians 1:5
For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
-
Cross References
2 Corinthians 7:2
Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one.
-
Cross References
Ephesians 4:1
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.
Colossians 1:10
That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
-
Cross References
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
1 Corinthians 1:9
God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Thessalonians 5:24
He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
2 Thessalonians 2:14
To which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 1:9
Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
-
Cross References
Romans 1:8
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
1 Thessalonians 1:2
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.
1 Thessalonians 1:3
Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father.
-
Cross References
Mark 4:20
"But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."
-
Cross References
Matthew 10:20
For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
Galatians 4:14
And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
-
Cross References
1 Peter 1:23
Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.
-
Cross References
Galatians 1:22
And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ.
-
Cross References
Acts 17:5
But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
1 Thessalonians 3:4
For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.
2 Thessalonians 1:4
So that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure.
-
Cross References
Luke 24:20
And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.
Acts 2:23
Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death.
-
Cross References
Jeremiah 2:30
In vain I have chastened your children; They received no correction. Your sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion.
Matthew 5:12
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 23:34
Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city.
Matthew 23:35
That on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
Acts 7:52
Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers.
-
Cross References
Esther 3:8
Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people's, and they do not keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain.
-
Cross References
Luke 11:52
"Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered."
-
Cross References
Genesis 15:16
"But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete."
Daniel 8:23
And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes.
Matthew 23:32
Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' guilt.
-
Cross References
Matthew 24:6
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.