1 For 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.

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 asthe 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.

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.

For your selues, brethren, knowe our entrance in vnto you, that it was not in vaine.

2But euen after that wee had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, wee were bold in our God, to speake vnto you the Gospel of God with much contention.

3For our exhortation was not of deceite, nor of vncleannesse, nor in guile:

4But as we were allowed of God to bee put in trust with the Gospel, euen so wee speake, not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

5For neither at any time vsed wee flattering wordes, as yee knowe, nor a cloke of couetousnesse, God is witnesse:

6Nor of men sought we glorie, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might haue beene burdensome, as the Apostles of Christ.

7But wee were gentle among you, euen as a nurse cherisheth her children:

8So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to haue imparted vnto you, not the Gospel of God only, but also our owne soules, because ye were deare vnto vs.

9For yee remember, brethren, our labour and trauaile: for labourng night and day, because wee would not bee chargeable vnto any of you, wee preached vnto you the Gospel of God.

10Yee are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and iustly, and vnblameably wee behaued our selues among you that beleeue.

11As you know, how wee exhorted and comforted, and charged euery one of you, (as a father doeth his children,)

12That ye would walke worthy of God, who hath called you vnto his kingdome and glory.

13For this cause also thanke wee God without ceasing, because when yee receiued the word of God, which yee heard of vs, yee receiued it not as the word of men, but (as it is in trueth) the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that beleeue.

14For yee, brethren, became followers of the Churches of God, which in Iudea are in Christ Iesus: for ye also haue suffered like things of your owne countreymen, euen as they haue of the Iewes:

15Who both killed the Lord Iesus, and their owne Prophets, and haue persecuted vs: and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

16Forbidding vs to speake to the Gentiles, that they might bee saued, to fill vp their sinnes alway: for the wrath is come vpon them to the vttermost.

17But wee, brethren, beeing taken from you for a short time, in presence, not in heart, endeuored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.

18Wherefore we would haue come vnto you (euen I Paul) once & againe: but Satan hindered vs.

19For what is our hope, or ioy, or crowne of reioycing? Are not euen ye in the presence of our Lord Iesus Christ at his comming?

20For, ye are our glory and ioy.

2:2 ==ACTS 16:19-24 ; 17:1-9 ; ROM 1:1

2:5 ==ACTS 20:33

2:6 ==1st COR 9:1

2:7==1st THESS 2:11 ; GAL 4:19

2:8==2nd COR 12:15 ; 1st JN 3:16

2:11==1st COR 4:14

2:12==1st PETER 5:10

2:13==1st THESS 1:2

2:14==1st THESS 1:6 ; 1st COR 7:17 ; GAL 1:22 ; ACTS 17:5 ; 2nd THESS 1:4

2:15==1st COR 4:14

2:16==ACTS 9:23 ; 13:45 , 50 ; 14:2 , 5 , 19 , ; 17:5 , 13 ; 18:12 ; 21:21 , 27 ; 25:2 , 7 ; 1st COR 10:33 ; GEN 15:16 ; 1st THESS 1:10

2:17= =1st COR 5:3

2:19==PH 4:1 ; 1st THESS 3:13 ; 4:15 ; 5:23 ; MT 16:27 ; MK 8:38

2:20==2nd COR 1:14

1 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our reception among you was not without effect. 2 Rather, after we had suffered and been insolently treated, as you know, in Philippi, we drew courage through our God to speak to you the gospel of God with much struggle. 3 Our exhortation was not from delusion or impure motives, nor did it work through deception. 4 But as we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the gospel, that is how we speak, not as trying to please human beings,but rather God, who judges our hearts. 5 Nor, indeed, did we ever appear with flattering speech, as you know, or with a pretext for greed - God is witness -  6 nor did we seek praise from human beings, either from you or from others, 7 although we were able to impose our weight as apostles of Christ. Rather, we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children. 8 With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us. 9 You recall, brothers, our toil and drudgery. Working night and day in order not to burden any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers. 11 As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children, 12 exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you conduct yourselves as worthy of the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory. 13 And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly, that,in receiving the word of God from hearing us, you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the word of God, which is now atwork in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers, have become imitators of the churches of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you suffer the same things from your compatriots as they did from the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us; they do not please God, and are opposed to everyone, 16 trying to prevent us from speaking to the Gentiles that they may be saved, thus constantly filling up the measure of their sins. But the wrath of God has finally begun to come upon them. 17 Brothers, when we were bereft of you for a short time, in person, not in heart, we were all the more eager in our great desire to see you in person. 18 We decided to go to you - I, Paul, not only once but more than once - yet Satan thwarted us. 19 For what is our hope or joy or crown to boast of in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming if not you yourselves? 20 For you are our glory and joy.

1. From what had been said in chapter 1, Paul’s efforts had been worthwhile.

V 2 SHAMEFULLY TREATED AT PHILIPPI.....: Before going on to Thessalonica Paul and Silas were taken before the city agistrates of Philippi. They were stripped of their clothes, beaten with rods and then thrown into prison. (Act 16:19-24) God gave them the courage to keep preaching despite aggressive opposition, despite being disheartened and lmost being terrified into being silence, almost wordless.

V3 ERROR.....UNCLEANESS.....GUILE.....: With slanderous charges being circulate by his enimies, his missonary team at all times worked and lived above any reproach (2:10) Paul’s message had come from the Lord. Uncleanness -The cults taught immorality and some thought Paul taught salvation by grace so believers  could do as they please. (Unfortunately some Baptists seem to teach that, defending their position by citing someone serving God out of love and dedication as being the “weaker brother” and  being a legalist and offended by their actions.) They make the righteous living one seem less spiritual. Paul did not use guile or deceit in any form.

v 4,5. As an apostle and missionary Paul had been put in trust with the gospel. His motive was continually to please God, not to sweet talk to get the praise of men. As he will point out in v 9, he worked for support rather than coveting finance from others.

v 6-8. V 6 APOSTES.....: In the New Testament it is used several different ways. (1:1) (1) The One Sent by the Father, Jesus; (Heb 3:1) (2) Jesus' twelve disciples (LK 6:13) (3) A group of the the Resurrection's witnesses. ( 1st Cor 15:7) (4) Churche's messengers sent on missions ( 2nd Cor 8:23 Phil 2:25) In his position he could have asserted his authority and claimed praise and honor, but like a true shepherd of the flock, he used gentle loving care, giving them not only the gospel but himself. 2 Cor. 12:15 ... be spent for you. V 7 LIKE A NURSE.....: Paul and his companions developed a great tender affection for the Thessalonians. Paul and his companions all worked hard and made every effort to encourage the Thessalonians and to serve their needs.

v 9. All Jewish boys were taught a trade, Paul, tent making. He preached when he could and probably worked into the night making tents out of necessity, and so no one could accuse him of being in the ministry for profit.

v 10. They knew Paul’s conduct among them had been beyond reproach.

v 11,12. In verse 7 Paul had referred to the gentleness of a mother. Now he uses the similarity of a father using loving firmness as he counsels his children to Paul’s encouragement and advice to the new believers.

v 13. He gives special thanks to God that these people had accepted Paul’s teaching as the true Word of God with the supernatural power to change lives, and not mere words of another passing philosopher.

v 14. The fact that these people suffered persecution from their own countrymen as they imitated the beliefs and actions of the Judean Christians was ample proof that the gospel had been made real in their lives.

v 15,16. This is one of Paul’s strongest accusations against the Jews, probably due to the way they had followed him from town to town to stir up opposition against his preaching the gospel, specifically to the Gentiles. This reminds of Jonah fleeing so he would not have to preach to Ninevah, and his anger when God had compassion on them. Paul spelled out killing Jesus the Lord, their own prophets, and persecuting Paul along with their other rebellions against God. Now God’s wrath will come upon them.

V 17 DEPRIVED: MEANS "ORPHANED" in Greek possibly reference to Paul's hurried departure from Thessalonica (Acts 17:10)

v 17,18. Because of the spiritual bond between them and his concern for their welfare, Paul had an earnest desire to see the believers there. Problems encountered at Corinth, Paul attributed rightly to Satan, but they were such that he was unable to make a return trip to Thessalonica. Perhaps lingering dangers to him there were also a factor.

V 18 SATAN HINDERED US: The same evil that forced him to flee now keeps him from returnig. The native of the obstruction is left unspoken, but it may be linked with the Jewish and pegan opposition. Paul had faced in Thessalonica ( Act 17:5)

V. 19 CROWN OF BOASTING: Paul used an expression found in the Greek OT at Prov 16:31 and Ezek 16:12 HIS COMING: Used in Thessalonian letter for the anticipated return of Christ in Glory ( 3:13 , 4:15 , 5:23 , Thess 2:1 , 8)

v 19,20.  The laurel wreath crowns of the Greek games would soon wither, but the crown of rejoicing, the soul winner’s crown, is eternal. At the Rapture, the believers themselves are the symbol of God’s blessing and the reward.

V. 20 OUR GLORY AND JOY: Paul had similar sentements for the Philippian church (Phil 4:1)