| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, about our coming to you--it has not proven to be purposeless. | 1You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. |
| 2But although we suffered earlier and were mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of much opposition. | 2We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. |
| 3For the appeal we make does not come from error or impurity or with deceit, | 3For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. |
| 4but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we declare it, not to please people but God, who examines our hearts. | 4On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. |
| 5For we never appeared with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed--God is our witness-- | 5You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed--God is our witness. |
| 6nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others, | 6We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. |
| 7although we could have imposed our weight as apostles of Christ; instead we became little children among you. Like a nursing mother caring for her own children, | 7Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, |
| 8with such affection for you we were happy to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. | 8so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. |
| 9For you recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery: By working night and day so as not to impose a burden on any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. | 9Surely 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. |
| 10You are witnesses, and so is God, as to how holy and righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you who believe. | 10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. |
| 11As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his own children, | 11For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, |
| 12exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you live in a way worthy of God who calls you to his own kingdom and his glory. | 12encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. |
| 13And so we too constantly thank God that when you received God's message that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human message, but as it truly is, God's message, which is at work among you who believe. | 13And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. |
| 14For you became imitators, brothers and sisters, of God's churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they in fact did from the Jews, | 14For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God's churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews |
| 15who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us severely. They are displeasing to God and are opposed to all people, | 15who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone |
| 16because they hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they constantly fill up their measure of sins, but wrath has come upon them completely. | 16in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last. |
| 17But when we were separated from you, brothers and sisters, for a short time (in presence, not in affection) we became all the more fervent in our great desire to see you in person. | 17But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. |
| 18For we wanted to come to you (I, Paul, in fact tried again and again) but Satan thwarted us. | 18For we wanted to come to you--certainly I, Paul, did, again and again--but Satan blocked our way. |
| 19For who is our hope or joy or crown to boast of before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not of course you? | 19For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? |
| 20For you are our glory and joy! | 20Indeed, you are our glory and joy. |
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