| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain. | 1For you yourselves know, brothers, that our visit with you was not without result. |
| 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. | 2On the contrary, after we had previously suffered, and we were treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition. |
| 3For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery. | 3For our exhortation didn't come from error or impurity or an intent to deceive. |
| 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. | 4Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please men, but rather God, who examines our hearts. |
| 5As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness! | 5For we never used flattering speech, as you know, or had greedy motives--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. | 6and we didn't seek glory from people, either from you or from others. |
| 7On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children. | 7Although we could have been a burden as Christ's apostles, instead we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother nurtures her own 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. | 8We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear 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. | 9For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers. Working night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God's gospel to you. |
| 10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed. | 10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously, and blamelessly we conducted ourselves with you believers. |
| 11For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children— | 11As you know, like a father with 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. | 12we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk 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. | 13This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the message about God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the message of God, which also works effectively in you believers. |
| 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, | 14For you, brothers, became imitators of God's churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, since you have also suffered the same things from people of your own country, just as they did 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, | 15who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us; they displease God and are hostile to everyone, |
| 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. | 16hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. As a result, they are always completing the number of their sins, and wrath has overtaken them at last. |
| 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. | 17But as for us, brothers, after we were forced to leave you for a short time (in person, not in heart), we greatly desired and made every effort to return and see you face to face. |
| 18For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us. | 18So we wanted to come to you--even I, Paul, time and again--but Satan hindered 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? | 19For who is our hope or joy or crown of boasting in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you? |
| 20You are indeed our glory and our joy. | 20For you are our glory and joy! |
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