Paul's Integrity in Ministry and the Church's Persecution
1 Thessalonians 2:1-16
1For they themselves know, brothers, our entry to you, that it did not prove empty.2But after suffering before and being mistreated, as you know, in Philippi, we spoke boldly in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.3For our encouragement does not spring from error, nor from impurity, nor in deceit.4But just as we have been tested by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing humans, but God who tests our hearts.5For we never came with a word of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed; God is our witness.6Nor did we seek glory from humans, whether from you or from others.7Although we could have asserted our authority as apostles of Christ, we became gentle in your midst, as a nursing mother cares for her own children.8So, yearning for you, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own souls, because you became beloved to us.9You remember, brothers, our labor and hardship: while working night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.10You yourselves and God are witnesses of how devoutly, rightly, and blamelessly we behaved toward you who believe.11Just as you know, we dealt with each one of you as a father deals with his own children.12Pleading with you and encouraging and testifying that you should walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.13And for this reason we also thank God continually, because when you received the word of hearing from us, you accepted not a word of humans but, as it truly is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.14For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus, since you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews.15who also killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and persecuted us, and who are not pleasing to God and are hostile to all people.16They hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved, thereby always completing the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them at last.