1 Thessalonians 2:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

NIV: Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.

NASB: For you recall, brothers and sisters, our labor and hardship: it was by working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, that we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

CSB: For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers and sisters. Working night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God’s gospel to you.

NLT: Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God’s Good News to you.

KJV: For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

NKJV: For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

In this verse Paul calls upon his readers to remember how hard he had worked in order not to impose on them. He worked long hours, to the point of exhaustion, and endured hardship in order to preach and teach the gospel. Perhaps his work involved making tents, which seems to be a trade he adopted. Acts 18:1–3 relates that he stayed with Aquila and Priscilla at Corinth because they were tentmakers, also.

Paul's sacrificial labor to enrich the lives of the Thessalonians reflects the sacrificial ministry of the Lord Jesus on our behalf. Jesus led a voluntary simple life. He owned no property and did not even have a place to lay His head (Matthew 8:20). When He died on the cross, He gave His blood on our behalf. Second Corinthians 8:9 affirms: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich [in heaven], yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich."

First Thessalonians 2:9–12 is Paul's call for the Christians at Thessalonica to recall how he and his coworkers had conducted themselves. He describes how hard they had labored to support themselves, so they would not be a burden to the Thessalonians. He also calls on his readers to remember the godly lifestyle they led at Thessalonica while they shared the gospel. No one could accuse them of any wrongdoing. Like a loving father, they had encouraged and instructed the believers to lead a life that honored God, who had called them into His kingdom and glory.

Paul begins to flesh out the general ideas he mentioned in chapter 1. Here in chapters 2 and 3, he further explains how he came to preach to the Thessalonian people. Paul particularly notes that his good conduct, proving his unselfish motivations, was instrumental in his success. The warm response of the people also endeared them to Paul, making him long to visit them again. Unfortunately, Paul was prevented from doing so, a struggle he attributes to Satan. Paul once again expresses his gratitude for the Thessalonian Christians' ability to honor God despite persecution.

Chapter 1 briefly introduced the relationship between Paul and the Christians at Thessalonica. This introduction is expanded in chapter 2, where Paul gives additional details about how he came to preach there, why he left, and what he has heard of their spiritual progress. Chapter 3 will round out this glowing report with a reference to a visit from Paul's friend and student, Timothy.

The apostle Paul's second missionary journey included a visit to the prominent Greek city of Thessalonica. This stood alongside a major land route and boasted a busy seaport. A number of individuals believed Paul's message (Acts 17:1–4), but an angry mob forced Paul to leave the city after his brief stay. Later, while in Athens, Paul received a glowing report: the believers at Thessalonica were growing spiritually and serving God fervently. However, they had questions about the Lord's return, including what happens to a believer who dies before that day. And, as all churches do, they had some areas in which they were falling short. In Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians, written about AD 51, he addresses these developments. Paul expresses gratitude for the Thessalonian believers' spiritual progress, and frequently makes references to Christ's impending return.