1 Thessalonians 2
What Happens in This Chapter
Paul reminds the Thessalonians what he and his companions were like when they first came to them, right after being mistreated in Philippi. He says they did not flatter anyone or ask for money, but worked night and day and cared for the believers like a father and a nursing mother. He thanks God that the Thessalonians received the message as God's word, and notes that they were hurt by their own countrymen just as the churches in Judea were. He ends by saying he tried again and again to visit, that Satan blocked him, and that they are his joy.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
1Brothers and sisters, you know that our visit to you was not wasted. It did real good.
2But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
2Before we came to you, we were hurt and shamed in the city of Philippi. You know that. Even so, God made us brave. We told you God's good news, while many people fought against it.
"Shamefully entreated" does not mean asked politely. In 1611 it meant treated badly, on purpose, to shame someone.
3For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
3When we asked you to listen, we were not lying. We had no sneaky plans. We were not trying to trick you.
4But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
4God looked at us and trusted us with his good news. So that is how we speak. We are not trying to please people. We want to please God, who sees inside our hearts.
5For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
5You know we never used sweet words to fool you. We never used a cover-up to get your money. God knows this is true.
6Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
6We did not look for praise from you or from anyone else. We are apostles of Christ, men he sent out with his message. We could have asked you to take care of us.
7But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
7Instead, we were gentle with you. We were like a mother caring for her own baby.
The old word "nurse" here does not mean a hospital nurse. It means a mother feeding and caring for her own baby.
8So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
8We loved you so much. We were glad to share God's good news with you. We shared our own lives too. That is how dear you were to us.
9For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
9Brothers and sisters, you remember how hard we worked. We worked night and day. We did not want to cost any of you anything. And we told you God's good news.
10Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
10You saw how we lived among you who believe. God saw it too. We lived in a way that was good, fair, and honest. No one could blame us.
11As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
11You know how we treated each one of you. We were like a father with his own children.
12That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
12We cheered you up. We comforted you. We asked you to live in a way that fits a God like ours. He is calling you into his kingdom and his glory.
13For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
13So we thank God all the time. You heard God's message from us, and you took it in. You did not treat it as words from people. You took it as what it truly is, the word of God. It is working in you who believe.
14For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
14Brothers and sisters, you became like God's churches in Judea that belong to Christ Jesus. Your own neighbors hurt you, just as the Jewish leaders there hurt those churches.
15Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
15Those people killed the Lord Jesus. They also killed their own prophets, men who told people what God said. They drove us out too. They do not please God, and they are against everyone.
16Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
16They try to stop us from telling other nations how they can be saved. So their sins keep piling up higher and higher. God's anger has now come on them in full.
17But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
17Brothers and sisters, we were pulled away from you for a short time. We were far away in body, but not in heart. We wanted very much to see your faces again, and we tried hard.
18Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
18We really wanted to come to you. I, Paul, tried more than once. But Satan blocked our way.
19For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
19What is our hope? What is our joy? What is our winner's crown? It is you, when we stand before our Lord Jesus at his coming.
A crown here is not a king's gold crown. It is the wreath of leaves given to the winner of a race, something to be proud of.
20For ye are our glory and joy.
20Yes, you are our glory and our joy.
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