Paul’s Ministry

1For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our [a]reception among you was not in vain, 2but after we had already suffered and been treated abusively in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God [b]amid much [c]opposition. 3For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or [d]by way of deceit; 4but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not intending to please people, but to please God, who [e]examines our hearts. 5For we never came [f]with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext [g]for greed—God is our witness— 6nor did we seek honor from people, either from you or from others, though [h]we could have [i]asserted our authority as apostles of Christ. 7But we [j]proved to be [k]gentle [l]among you. As a nursing mother [m]tenderly cares for her own children, 8in the same way we had a fond affection for you and were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own [n]lives, because you had become [o]very dear to us.

9For 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. 10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly and rightly and blamelessly we [p]behaved toward you [q]believers; 11just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, 12so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

13For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of mere men, but as what it really is, the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe. 14For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, 15who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and [r]drove us out. [s]They are not pleasing to God, [t]but hostile to all people, 16hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always [u]reach the limit of their sins. But wrath has come upon them [v]fully.

17But we, brothers and sisters, having been orphaned from you by absence for a [w]short while—in [x]person, not in [y]spirit—were all the more eager with great desire to see your face. 18[z]For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, [aa]more than once—and Satan hindered us. 19For who is our hope, or joy or crown of pride, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His [ab]coming? Or is it not indeed you? 20For you are our glory and joy.

[a] 1 Or coming to you
[b] 2 Or during
[c] 2 Or struggle; or conflict
[d] 3 Lit in deceit
[e] 4 Or approves
[f] 5 Lit in a word of flattery
[g] 5 I.e., to conceal greed
[h] 6 Lit being able to
[i] 6 Or been burdensome as
[j] 7 Or became gentle
[k] 7 Three early mss infants
[l] 7 Lit in the midst of you
[m] 7 Or cherishes
[n] 8 Or souls
[o] 8 Lit beloved
[p] 10 Lit became
[q] 10 Or who believe
[r] 15 Or persecuted us
[s] 15 Lit and
[t] 15 Lit and
[u] 16 Lit complete their
[v] 16 Or forever; lit to the end
[w] 17 Lit occasion of an hour
[x] 17 Lit face
[y] 17 Lit heart
[z] 18 Or Because
[aa] 18 Lit both once and twice
[ab] 19 Or presence