1 Tessalonicenses 2

I vide jo selv, Brødre! at vor Indgang hos eder ikke har været forgæves;

men skønt vi, som I vide, forud havde lidt og vare blevne mishandlede i Filippi, fik vi Frimodighed i vor Gud til at tale Guds Evangelium til eder under megen Kamp.

Thi vor Prædiken skyldes ikke Bedrag, ej heller Urenhed og er ikke forbunden med Svig;

men ligesom vi af Gud ere fundne værdige til at få Evangeliet betroet, således tale vi, ikke for at behage Mennesker, men Gud, som prøver vore Hjerter.

Thi vor Færd var hverken nogen Sinde med smigrende Tale - som I vide - ej heller var den et Skalkeskjul for Havesyge - Gud er Vidne;

ikke heller søgte vi Ære af Mennesker, hverken af eder eller af andre, skønt vi som Kristi Apostle nok kunde have været eder til Byrde.

Men vi færdedes med Mildhed iblandt eder. Som når en Moder ammer sine egne Børn,

således fandt vi, af inderlig Kærlighed til eder, en Glæde i at dele med eder ikke alene Guds Evangelium, men også vort eget Liv, fordi I vare blevne os elskelige.

I erindre jo, Brødre! vor Møje og Anstrengelse; arbejdende Nat og Dag, for ikke at være nogen af eder til Byrde, prædikede vi Guds Evangelium for eder.

I ere Vidner, og Gud, hvor fromt og retfærdigt og ulasteligt vi færdedes iblandt eder, som tro;

ligesom I vide, hvorledes vi formanede og opmuntrede hver enkelt af eder som en Fader sine Børn

og besvore eder, at I skulde vandre Gud værdigt, ham, som kaldte eder til sit Rige og sin Herlighed.

Og derfor takke også vi Gud uafladelig, fordi, da I modtoge Guds Ord, som I hørte af os, toge I ikke imod det som Menneskers Ord, men som Guds Ord (hvad det sandelig er), hvilket også viser sig virksomt i eder, som tro.

Thi I, Brødre! ere blevne Efterfølgere af Guds Menigheder i Judæa i Kristus Jesus, efterdi også I have lidt det samme af eders egne Stammefrænder, som de have lidt af Jøderne,

der både ihjelsloge den Herre Jesus og Profeterne og udjoge os og ikke behage Gud og stå alle Mennesker imod,

idet de forhindre os i at tale til Hedningerne til deres Frelse, for til enhver Tid at fylde deres Synders Mål; men Vreden er kommen over dem fuldtud.

Men vi, Brødre! som en stakket Tid have været skilte fra eder i det ydre, ikke i Hjertet, vi have gjort os des mere Flid for at få eders Ansigt at se, under megen Længsel,

efterdi vi have haft i Sinde at komme til eder, jeg, Paulus, både een og to Gange, og Satan har hindret os deri.

Thi hvem er vort Håb eller vor Glæde eller vor Hæderskrans, når ikke også I ere det for vor Herre Jesus Kristus i hans Tilkommelse?

I ere jo vor Ære og Glæde.

For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:

But 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.

For our exhortation {was} not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:

But 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.

For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God {is} witness:

Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor {yet} of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. {been...: or, used authority}

But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

So 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.

For 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.

Ye {are} witnesses, and God {also}, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father {doth} his children,

That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

For 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.

For 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:

Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: {persecuted us: or, chased us out}

Forbidding 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.

But 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.

Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

For 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? {rejoicing: or, glorying?}

For ye are our glory and joy.