1For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain,
2but though we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we grew bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much conflict.
3For our appeal did not spring from error, nor from impurity, nor was it made with deceit,
4but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing people but God, who tests our hearts.
5For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed — God is witness —
6nor seeking glory from people, either from you or from others,
7though we could have thrown our weight around as apostles of Christ. Instead, we became gentle in your midst, as when a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
8So, yearning for you, we were glad to share with you not only the gospel of God but our own selves as well, because you had become beloved to us.
9For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: working night and day so as not to burden any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
10You are witnesses, and God as well, how devoutly and righteously and blamelessly we conducted ourselves toward you who believe,
11just as you know how, like a father with his own children, we dealt with each one of you,
12exhorting you and encouraging you and urging you to walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
13And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly, that when you received the word of God’s message from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but, as it truly is, the word of God, which is also at work in you who believe.
14For you became imitators, brothers, of the churches of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus, because you too suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,
15who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and are not pleasing to God, and are hostile to all people,
16hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they might be saved — so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last.
17But we, brothers, having been torn away from you for a short time — in presence, not in heart — were all the more eager, with great longing, to see your face.
18For we wanted to come to you — I, Paul, again and again — and Satan hindered us.
19For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting — is it not indeed you? — before our Lord Jesus at his coming?
20For you are our glory and joy.
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