1 Thessalonians 2:12-20

2:12 exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you live in a way worthy of God who calls you to his own kingdom and his glory. 2:13 And so ¹  we too constantly thank God that when you received God’s message that you heard from us, ²  you accepted it not as a human message, ³  but as it truly is, God’s message, which is at work among you who believe. 2:14 For you became imitators, brothers and sisters, ⁴  of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they in fact did from the Jews, 2:15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets ⁵  and persecuted us severely. ⁶  They are displeasing to God and are opposed to all people, 2:16 because they hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they constantly fill up their measure of sins, ⁷  but wrath ⁸  has come upon them completely. ⁹ 

Forced Absence from Thessalonica

2:17 But when we were separated from you, brothers and sisters, ¹⁰  for a short time (in presence, not in affection) ¹¹  we became all the more fervent in our great desire ¹²  to see you in person. ¹³  2:18 For we wanted to come to you (I, Paul, in fact tried again and again) ¹⁴  but Satan thwarted us. 2:19 For who is our hope or joy or crown to boast of ¹⁵  before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not of course you? 2:20 For you are our glory and joy!

[2:13]  ¹ tn Grk “for this reason,” which seems to look back to Paul’s behavior just described. But it may look forward to v. 13b and mean: “and here is another reason that we constantly thank God: that…”

[2:13]  ² tn Grk “God’s word of hearing from us.”

[2:13]  ³ tn Paul’s focus is their attitude toward the message he preached: They received it not as a human message but a message from God.

[2:14]  ⁴ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.

[2:15]  ⁵ tc ἰδίους (idious, “their own prophets”) is found in D¹ Ψ Ï sy Mcion^T. This is obviously a secondary reading. Marcion’s influence may stand behind part of the tradition, but the Byzantine text probably added the adjective in light of its mention in v. 14 and as a clarification or interpretation of which prophets were in view.

[2:15]  ⁶ tn Or “and drove us out” (cf. Acts 17:5-10).

[2:16]  ⁷ tn Grk “to fill up their sins always.”

[2:16]  ⁸ tc The Western text (D F G latt) adds τοῦ θεοῦ (tou qeou) to ὀργή (orgh) to read “the wrath of God,” in emulation of the normal Pauline idiom (cf., e.g., Rom 1:18; Eph 5:6; Col 3:6) and, most likely, to clarify which wrath is in view (since ὀργή is articular).

[2:16]  ⁹ tn Or “at last.”

[2:17]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.

[2:17]  ¹¹ tn Grk “in face, not in heart.”

[2:17]  ¹² tn Grk “with great desire.”

[2:17]  ¹³ tn Grk “to see your face.”

[2:18]  ¹⁴ tn Or “several times”; Grk, “both once and twice.” The literal expression “once and twice” is frequently used as a Greek idiom referring to an indefinite low number, but more than once (“several times”); see L&N 60.70.

[2:19]  ¹⁵ sn Crown to boast of (Grk “crown of boasting”). Paul uses boasting or exultation to describe the Christian’s delight in being commended for faithful service by the Lord at his return (1 Cor 9:15-16; 2 Cor 1:12-14; 10:13-18; Phil 2:16; and 1 Cor 3:14; 4:5).