1 Thessalonians 2, Additional Reading Psalm 142

Saturday, August 15, 2026, 12:00 AM
 

Paul’s Ministry

2 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our [a]coming to you was not in vain, 2 but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much [b]opposition. 3 For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or [c]by way of deceit; 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who [d]examines our hearts. 5 For we never came [e]with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness— 6 nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ [f]we might have [g]asserted our authority. 7 But we [h]proved to be [i]gentle [j]among you, as a nursing mother [k]tenderly cares for her own children. 8 Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own [l]lives, because you had become [m]very dear to us.

9 For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we [n]behaved toward you [o]believers; 11 just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and [p]imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, 12 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. 14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, 15 who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and [q]drove us out. [r]They are not pleasing to God, [s]but hostile to all men, 16 hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them [t]to the utmost.

17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a [u]short while—in [v]person, not in [w]spirit—were all the more eager with great desire to see your face. 18 [x]For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, [y]more than once—and yet Satan hindered us. 19 For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His [z]coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 2:1 Lit entrance
  2. 1 Thessalonians 2:2 Or struggle, conflict
  3. 1 Thessalonians 2:3 Lit in deceit
  4. 1 Thessalonians 2:4 Or approves
  5. 1 Thessalonians 2:5 Lit in a word of flattery
  6. 1 Thessalonians 2:6 Lit being able to
  7. 1 Thessalonians 2:6 Or be burdensome
  8. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Or became gentle
  9. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Three early mss read babes
  10. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Lit in the midst of you
  11. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Or cherishes
  12. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 Or souls
  13. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 Lit beloved
  14. 1 Thessalonians 2:10 Lit became
  15. 1 Thessalonians 2:10 Or who believe
  16. 1 Thessalonians 2:11 Or testifying to
  17. 1 Thessalonians 2:15 Or persecuted us
  18. 1 Thessalonians 2:15 Lit and
  19. 1 Thessalonians 2:15 Lit and
  20. 1 Thessalonians 2:16 Or forever or altogether; lit to the end
  21. 1 Thessalonians 2:17 Lit occasion of an hour
  22. 1 Thessalonians 2:17 Lit face
  23. 1 Thessalonians 2:17 Lit heart
  24. 1 Thessalonians 2:18 Or Because
  25. 1 Thessalonians 2:18 Lit both once and twice
  26. 1 Thessalonians 2:19 Or presence
 
 

Prayer for Help in Trouble.

[a]Maskil of David, when he was [b]in the cave. A Prayer.

142 I cry aloud with my voice to the Lord;
I make supplication with my voice to the Lord.
2 I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare my trouble before Him.
3 When my spirit [c]was overwhelmed within me,
You knew my path.
In the way where I walk
They have hidden a trap for me.
4 Look to the right and see;
For there is no one who regards me;
[d]There is no escape for me;
No one cares for my soul.

5 I cried out to You, O Lord;
I said, “You are my refuge,
My portion in the land of the living.
6 “Give heed to my cry,
For I am brought very low;
Deliver me from my persecutors,
For they are too strong for me.
7 “Bring my soul out of prison,
So that I may give thanks to Your name;
The righteous will surround me,
For You will deal bountifully with me.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 142:1 Possibly Contemplative, or Didactic, or Skillful Psalm
  2. Psalm 142:1 1 Sam 22:1; 24:3
  3. Psalm 142:3 Lit fainted
  4. Psalm 142:4 Lit Escape has perished from me

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