Font Size
1 Thessalonians 2:3-10
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
1 Thessalonians 2:3-10
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
3 Our exhortation was not from delusion or impure motives, nor did it work through deception. 4 But as we were judged worthy[a] 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.(A) 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,(B) 7 although we were able to impose our weight as apostles of Christ. Rather, we were gentle[b] 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.(C) 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2:4 Judged worthy: Paul regards “worthiness” not as grounded in one’s own talent or moral self-righteousness but in God’s discernment of genuinely selfless attitudes and actions (see 2 Cor 10:17–18).
- 2:7 Gentle: many excellent manuscripts read “infants” (nēpioi), but “gentle” (ēpioi) better suits the context here.
1 Thessalonians 2:3-10
New International Version
1 Thessalonians 2:3-10
New International Version
3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives,(A) nor are we trying to trick you.(B) 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.(C) We are not trying to please people(D) but God, who tests our hearts.(E) 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed(F)—God is our witness.(G) 6 We were not looking for praise from people,(H) not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles(I) of Christ we could have asserted our authority.(J) 7 Instead, we were like young children[a] among you.
Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,(K) 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God(L) but our lives as well.(M) 9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked(N) night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone(O) while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses,(P) and so is God,(Q) of how holy,(R) righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.
Footnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Some manuscripts were gentle
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.