1 Thessalonians 2

King James Version (1769) · Tap a verse to see it in context

About this chapter

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Paul reminds the Thessalonians how he and his companions came to them boldly after being shamefully treated at Philippi, speaking "not as pleasing men, but God," without flattery or covetousness. They were "gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children," worked "night and day" so as not to burden anyone, and exhorted each one "as a father doth his children." The Thessalonians received their message "not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God," and Paul longs to see them, for "ye are our glory and joy." 1 Thessalonians 2:2 1 Thessalonians 2:4 1 Thessalonians 2:5 1 Thessalonians 2:7 1 Thessalonians 2:9 1 Thessalonians 2:11 1 Thessalonians 2:13 1 Thessalonians 2:17 1 Thessalonians 2:20 1 Thessalonians overview

Who, where, when, and the key verses

Who

Paul and his fellow writers, and the Thessalonian believers, who "suffered like things of your own countrymen" as the churches in Judaea had from the Jews. Paul names himself in verse 18. 1 Thessalonians overview 1 Thessalonians 2:14 1 Thessalonians 2:18

Where

Philippi, where they had been "shamefully entreated," Thessalonica, and the churches "which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 2:2 1 Thessalonians 2:14 Philippi Judea 1 1 Thessalonians overview

When

Traditionally about AD 50-51, during Paul's second missionary journey, soon after the church was founded. Nearly all scholars accept that Paul wrote it, and many count it his earliest surviving letter. 1 Thessalonians overview

How it fits

Chapter 1 recalled "what manner of entering in we had unto you"; this chapter describes it in detail. Chapter 3 tells how Paul, unable to wait any longer, sent Timothy to them. 1 Thessalonians 1:9 1 Thessalonians 2:1 1 Thessalonians 3:1 1 Thessalonians 3:2 1 Thessalonians overview

Key verses

Verse 4
"Not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts." Galatians 1:10 asks, "do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." 1 Thessalonians 2:4 Galatians 1:10
Verse 8
"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." 1 Thessalonians 2:7 1 Thessalonians 2:8
Verse 13
They 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." 1 Thessalonians 2:13

Takeaway

Serve to please God, not people, and share your life along with the gospel; receive God's word as his word, and it will work in you. 1 Thessalonians 2:4 1 Thessalonians 2:8 1 Thessalonians 2:13

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a separate AI reader. Updated 2026-10-29.

How Paul lived among them

¹For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: 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. ³For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 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. ⁵For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: ⁶Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. ⁷But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: 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. 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. ¹⁰Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: ¹¹As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, ¹²That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

Receiving the word of God

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. 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: 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: 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.

Longing to see them

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. ¹⁸Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. 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? ²⁰For ye are our glory and joy.