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1 Thessalonians / Paul's Integrity in Ministry and the Church's Persecution
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Paul's Integrity in Ministry and the Church's Persecution

1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

2
Chapter 2
1 For you yourselves know, brothers, our entrance to you, that it was not in vain. 2 But having previously suffered and been mistreated, just as you know, in Philippi, we spoke boldly in our God to you about the gospel of God amid much struggle. 3 For our exhortation is not from error nor from uncleanness nor in guile, 4 but just as we have been tested by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men but God who tests our hearts. 5 For we were never with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext of greed—God is witness. 6 nor seeking glory from humans, nor from you nor from others, 7 able in weight to be as Christ’s Apostles; but we became gentle in the midst of you, as if a nurse cherishes her own children; 8 So, yearning for you, we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own souls, because you had become dear to us. 9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil, working night and day so as not to burden any of you; we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You and God are witnesses of how holily and righteously and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers. 11 just as you know how, as a father does with his own children, 12 exhorting you, comforting you, and testifying to you, to walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. 13 And for this reason we also thank God continually, because when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a word of men but as it truly is, the word of God, which is also powerfully working in you believers. 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus, because you suffered the same things from your own fellow countrymen, just as they also did from the Jews. 15 of those who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and drove us out, and who do not please God and oppose all humans, 16 hindering us from speaking to the nations that they might be saved, to fill up their sins always. But the wrath has come upon them to the end.