1 Thessalonians 2

Devotionals, Articles, and Bible Study Resources on 1 Thessalonians 2

1You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain.
2As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God.
3For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.
4Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.
5As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!
6Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.
7On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.
8We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.
9Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.
11For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children —
12encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
13And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as the true word of God — the word which is now at work in you who believe.
14For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus. You suffered from your own countrymen the very things they suffered from the Jews,
15who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men,
16hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they may be saved. As a result, they continue to heap up their sins to full capacity; the utmost wrath has come upon them.
17Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense.
18For we wanted to come to you — indeed I, Paul, tried again and again — but Satan obstructed us.
19After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?
20You are indeed our glory and our joy.
— 1 Thessalonians 2

Related Resources from Heartlight

We Are Family!
Devo: A Year with Jesus

"Dear Brothers and Sisters, While there are many things you can learn from Paul's message to the Thessalonians, today I want you to notice the warm..."

God's Word
Devo: Praying with Paul

"Dear Father, real source of the Bible, Thank you for the word proclaimed in the New Testament. Help us accept it for what it really is, not mere..."

Holy and Blameless
Devo: Praying with Paul

"Dear Father, Keep all your preachers from using words of flattery, any cloak of greed, or from seeking glory for themselves, even though they have..."

How Falsehoods Diminish Truth
Article by Rubel Shelly

Why would we discredit the resurrection of Jesus by our lifestyle? Rubel Shelly tells how a famous author fabricated her tale as a Holocaust survivor and then reminds us that this lie diminishes the truth of the Holocaust, and we diminish the truth of Jesus by living in ways which contradict what we say we believe.

Avoiding Error
Devo: Praying with Paul

"Dear Father, I pray that every ministry being done in your name in our time will be done in unselfish love for you and for people. Please defeat..."

More Than Religious Jargon
Article by Ron Rose

Come on now, let's really glorify God! Ron Rose reminds us to not let glorify be simply a religious term.

Personality or Person?
Article by Phil Ware

How do you view your church leaders? We've got to move from viewing people as personalities to seeing them as people to love.

Spurgeon PM Devo for Aug. 7th
Devo: Morning & Evening

"Since the first hour in which goodness came into conflict with evil, it has never ceased to be true in spiritual experience, that Satan hinders us...."

The Highest Compliment
Article by Phil Ware

Why would he do such a thing? Phil Ware describes several passages of Scripture that use the image of a mother bird or a woman in labor to express their love for new Christians, and then says this is the highest compliment a mom can receive.

Mother's Love
Article by Paul Faulkner

Do you really understand how important a mother's love truly is? A mother's love and touch are crucial to babies in those earliest days of life.

You'd Do It All Again
Article by Max Lucado

Why pay such a high price and take such a big risk? Max Lucado writes about the high cost of doing God's work and the hope, joy, and crown we will glory in when we go to be with Jesus and it will be all about people!

The Greatest Glory
Article by Phil Ware

Where does a leader find true and lasting glory? Phil Ware continues his series of messages on true shepherds in the church and focuses on the subject of a leader's glory -- seeing his or her passion formed in others they have trained.

Sharing the Story of Our Lives
Article by Paul Faulkner

With whom have you shared your story? Paul Faulkner writes about sharing our story and being vulnerable with others so we can have friends.

Transparency
Article by Paul Faulkner

How can they know your love if you don't share yourself? Without transparency we cannot fully share our love or be loved by another.

The Comforter
Article by Alan Smith

What will you do with this blanket? The Holy Spirit is God's gift to Christians, the comforter who helps us and blesses us with his presence.

Supporting Those Who Serve
Devo: A Year with Jesus

"Dear Friend, The support of those who work for Me as their calling and vocation has always been a touchy issue among some of My people. Paul ran into..."

He Saved My Life
Article by Ron Rose

Who bailed you out? Ron Rose reflects on the movie "The Bucket List" and a man who gave his life for his friend in Iraq and challenges us to thank our friends like that and to be a friend like that.

Cross References for 1 Thessalonians 2

Cross References Provided by Open Bible

The Berean Standard Bible

The Berean Standard Bible (BSB) is a modern, clear, and faithful translation based on the best available Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. Ideal for reading, study, and sharing, it entered the public domain in 2023. For more information, visit berean.bible.