Huduma Ya Paulo Huko Thesalonike

Wapendwa, ninyi wenyewe mnajua kwamba tulipokuja kwenu haikuwa bure. Kama mjuavyo tulikuwa tumeteswa na kutukanwa huko Filipi, lakini hata hivyo, kwa msaada wa Mungu, tulikuwa na uja siri wa kuwaambia Habari Njema ya Mungu pamoja na kwamba uliku wapo upinzani mkali. Ujumbe wetu kwenu hautokani na kutokujua au nia mbaya au udanganyifu. Kinyume chake, tunahubiri kama watu tuliopata kibali cha Mungu tukakabidhiwa Habari Njema. Nia yetu si kuwapendeza wanadamu bali kumpendeza Mungu anayejua mawazo ya mioyo yetu. Mnafahamu kuwa hatukutumia maneno matamu ya kujipendekeza kwenu, wala hatukutumia hila kuficha tamaa ya kujipatia fedha, kwa maana Mungu ni shahidi yetu. Hatukutafuta kupata sifa kutoka kwa mwanadamu ye yote, kwenu au kwa mtu mwin gine.

Kama mitume wa Kristo tungaliweza kudai heshima kutoka kwenu, lakini tulikuwa wapole kwenu kama mama anayetunza watoto wake wadogo. Tuliwapenda sana, kiasi kwamba tulifurahi kushiri kiana nanyi, si Habari Njema ya Mungu tu, bali hata maisha yetu, kwa maana tuliwathamini mno. Ndugu zetu, bila shaka mnakumbuka juhudi yetu na kutaabika kwetu. Tulifanya kazi usiku na mchana kusudi tusiwe mzigo kwa mtu ye yote wakati tunawahubiria Habari Njema ya Mungu. 10 Ninyi ni mashahidi na Mungu pia ni shahidi yetu kwamba tulikuwa watakatifu, wenye haki na wasio na lawama kati yenu mlioamini. 11 Maana mnajua jinsi tulivyowatendea kama baba awa tendeavyo watoto wake: 12 tuliwatia moyo, tuliwafariji na kuwa himiza muishi maisha yampendezayo Mungu, ambaye anawaita mshiriki ufalme wake na utukufu.

13 Nasi tunamshukuru Mungu bila kukoma pia kwa sababu mlipo lipokea neno la Mungu mlilosikia kutoka kwetu, hamkulipokea kama neno la wanadamu. Bali mlilipokea kama lilivyo hasa, yaani, neno la Mungu, ambalo linafanya kazi ndani yenu ninyi mnaoamini. 14 Kwa maana ninyi ndugu zetu, mlikuwa wafuasi wa makanisa ya Mungu ndani ya Kristo Yesu yaliyoko Yudea. Mliteswa na watu wenu wenyewe kama vile makanisa hayo yalivyoteswa na Wayahudi. 15 Wao walimwua Bwana Yesu na manabii, wakatufukuza na sisi pia. Watu hao wanamchukiza Mungu na tena ni adui wa kila mtu kwa kuwa 16 wanajaribu kutuzuia tusiwahubirie watu wa mataifa mengine ujumbe ambao utawaokoa. Kwa njia hii wanazidi kujilundikia dhambi zao. Lakini hatimaye ghadhabu ya Mungu imewafikia.

Paulo Atamani Kuwaona Wathesalonike

17 Lakini ndugu zetu, tulipotenganishwa nanyi kwa muda, ingawa kutengana huko kulikuwa kwa mwili tu si kwa moyo, tulizidi kwa hamu kubwa kufanya kila jitihada tuonane uso kwa uso. 18 Maana tulitaka kuja huko, hasa mimi Paulo, nilijaribu zaidi ya mara moja, lakini shetani akatuzuia. 19 Kwa maana ni nini tumaini letu, furaha yetu au taji yetu ya utukufu mbele za Bwana Yesu Kristo atakapokuja? Si ninyi? 20 Hakika ninyi ndio utukufu wetu na furaha yetu.

Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you(A) was not without results.(B) We had previously suffered(C) and been treated outrageously in Philippi,(D) as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.(E) For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives,(F) nor are we trying to trick you.(G) On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.(H) We are not trying to please people(I) but God, who tests our hearts.(J) You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed(K)—God is our witness.(L) We were not looking for praise from people,(M) not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles(N) of Christ we could have asserted our authority.(O) Instead, we were like young children[a] among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,(P) so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God(Q) but our lives as well.(R) Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked(S) night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone(T) while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses,(U) and so is God,(V) of how holy,(W) righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,(X) 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy(Y) of God, who calls(Z) you into his kingdom and glory.

13 And we also thank God continually(AA) because, when you received the word of God,(AB) which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators(AC) of God’s churches in Judea,(AD) which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people(AE) the same things those churches suffered from the Jews 15 who killed the Lord Jesus(AF) and the prophets(AG) and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone 16 in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles(AH) so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit.(AI) The wrath of God has come upon them at last.[b]

Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians

17 But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought),(AJ) out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.(AK) 18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan(AL) blocked our way.(AM) 19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown(AN) in which we will glory(AO) in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?(AP) Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory(AQ) and joy.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Some manuscripts were gentle
  2. 1 Thessalonians 2:16 Or them fully