1 Thessalonians 2:9

7 On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.

8 We 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.

Surely 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.

10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.

11 For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children—

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Surely 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.
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.
WEB
For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail; for working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the Good News of God.
ASV
For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
DARBY
For ye remember, brethren, our labour and toil: working night and day, not to be chargeable to any one of you, we have preached to you the glad tidings of God.
BLB
For you⁺ remember, brothers, our labor and toil: Working night and day in order not to be burdensome upon any of you⁺, we proclaimed to you⁺ the gospel of God.
ÅB
Dere minnes jo, brødre, vårt strev og vår strev: under arbeid natt og dag, for ikke å falle noen av dere til byrde, forkynte vi Guds evangelium for dere.
OTB
For dere husker, brødre og søstre, vårt arbeid og vår nød: det var ved å arbeide natt og dag for ikke å være en byrde for noen av dere, at vi forkynte for dere Guds evangelium.
B1930
I minnes jo, brødre, vårt strev og vår møie: under arbeid natt og dag, for ikke å falle nogen av eder til byrde, forkynte vi Guds evangelium for eder.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:7–9

    For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,

    Read in context
  • 2 Corinthians 11:9

    And when I was with you and in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have refrained from being a burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do so.

    Read in context
  • Acts 18:3

    and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.

    Read in context
  • 2 Corinthians 12:13–14

    In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

    Read in context
  • 1 Timothy 4:10

    To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe.

    Read in context
  • Nehemiah 5:15

    The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people, but I did not do this because of my fear of God.

    Read in context
  • 1 Corinthians 9:15

    But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.

    Read in context
  • Nehemiah 5:18

    Each day one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine was provided. But I did not demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy.

    Read in context