1 Thessalonians 4:12

4:12 In this way you will live ¹  a decent life before outsiders and not be in need. ² 

1 Thessalonians 1:9

1:9 For people everywhere ³  report how you welcomed us ⁴  and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God

1 Thessalonians 2:1

Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

2:1 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, ⁵  about our coming to you – it has not proven to be purposeless. ⁶ 

1 Thessalonians 2:18

2:18 For we wanted to come to you (I, Paul, in fact tried again and again) ⁷  but Satan thwarted us.

1 Thessalonians 3:4

3:4 For in fact when we were with you, we were telling you in advance that we would suffer affliction, and so it has happened, as you well know. ⁸ 

1 Thessalonians 2:2

2:2 But although we suffered earlier and were mistreated in Philippi, ⁹  as you know, we had the courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God ¹⁰  in spite of much opposition.

1 Thessalonians 2:17

Forced Absence from Thessalonica

2:17 But when we were separated from you, brothers and sisters, ¹¹  for a short time (in presence, not in affection) ¹²  we became all the more fervent in our great desire ¹³  to see you in person. ¹⁴ 

1 Thessalonians 3:11

3:11 Now may God our Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you.

1 Thessalonians 5:14

5:14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, ¹⁵  admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient toward all.

1 Thessalonians 1:8

1:8 For from you the message of the Lord ¹⁶  has echoed forth not just in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place reports of your faith in God have spread, ¹⁷  so that we do not need to say anything.

1 Thessalonians 2:9

2:9 For you recall, brothers and sisters, ¹⁸  our toil and drudgery: By working night and day so as not to impose a burden on any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

1 Thessalonians 3:6

3:6 But now Timothy has come ¹⁹  to us from you and given us the good news of your faith and love and that you always think of us with affection ²⁰  and long to see us just as we also long to see you! ²¹ 

[4:12]  ¹ tn Grk “that you may live,” continuing the sentence of 4:10b-11.

[4:12]  ² tn Or “not be dependent on anyone”; Grk “and have need of nothing,” “of no one.”

[1:9]  ³ tn Grk “they themselves,” referring to people in the places just mentioned.

[1:9]  ⁴ tn Grk “what sort of entrance we had to you” (an idiom for how someone is received).

[2:1]  ⁵ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.

[2:1]  ⁶ tn Grk “has not become empty.” Paul is defending himself against the charge that he lacked earnestness and personal concern for them, but appeared in their city out of greed or egotism. In his defense he appeals to what they recall of his ministry and what has become of it since he left, all of which demonstrates his God-given earnestness and effectiveness.

[2:18]  ⁷ 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.

[3:4]  ⁹ tn Grk “just as it also occurred and you know.”

[2:2]  ¹¹ map For location see JP1 C1; JP2 C1; JP3 C1; JP4 C1.

[2:2]  ¹² tn The genitive in the phrase τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ θεοῦ (to euangelion tou qeou, “the gospel of God”) could be translated as either a subjective genitive (“the gospel which God brings”) or an objective genitive (“the gospel about God”). Either is grammatically possible. This is possibly an instance of a plenary genitive (see ExSyn 119-21; M. Zerwick, Biblical Greek, §§36-39). If so, an interplay between the two concepts is intended: The gospel which God brings is in fact the gospel about himself. This same phrase occurs in vv. 8 and 9 as well.

[2:17]  ¹³ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.

[2:17]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “in face, not in heart.”

[2:17]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “with great desire.”

[2:17]  ¹⁶ tn Grk “to see your face.”

[5:14]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.

[1:8]  ¹⁷ tn Or “the word of the Lord.”

[1:8]  ¹⁸ tn Grk “your faith in God has gone out.”

[2:9]  ¹⁹ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.

[3:6]  ²¹ tn Grk “but now Timothy having come,” a subordinate clause leading to the main clause of v. 7.

[3:6]  ²² tn Grk “you have a good remembrance of us always.”

[3:6]  ²³ tn Grk “just as also we you.”