1 Porque vós, irmãos, sabeis, pessoalmente, que a nossa estada entre vós não se tornou infrutífera; 2 mas, apesar de maltratados e ultrajados em Filipos, como é do vosso conhecimento, tivemos ousada confiança em nosso Deus, para vos anunciar o evangelho de Deus, em meio a muita luta. 3 Pois a nossa exortação não procede de engano, nem de impureza, nem se baseia em dolo; 4 pelo contrário, visto que fomos aprovados por Deus, a ponto de nos confiar ele o evangelho, assim falamos, não para que agrademos a homens, e sim a Deus, que prova o nosso coração. 5 A verdade é que nunca usamos de linguagem de bajulação, como sabeis, nem de intuitos gananciosos. Deus disto é testemunha. 6 Também jamais andamos buscando glória de homens, nem de vós, nem de outros. 7 Embora pudéssemos, como enviados de Cristo, exigir de vós a nossa manutenção, todavia, nos tornamos carinhosos entre vós, qual ama que acaricia os próprios filhos; 8 assim, querendo-vos muito, estávamos prontos a oferecer-vos não somente o evangelho de Deus, mas, igualmente, a própria vida; por isso que vos tornastes muito amados de nós. 9 Porque, vos recordais, irmãos, do nosso labor e fadiga; e de como, noite e dia labutando para não vivermos à custa de nenhum de vós, vos proclamamos o evangelho de Deus. 10 Vós e Deus sois testemunhas do modo por que piedosa, justa e irrepreensivelmente procedemos em relação a vós outros, que credes. 11 E sabeis, ainda, de que maneira, como pai a seus filhos, a cada um de vós, 12 exortamos, consolamos e admoestamos, para viverdes por modo digno de Deus, que vos chama para o seu reino e glória.

13 Outra razão ainda temos nós para, incessantemente, dar graças a Deus: é que, tendo vós recebido a palavra que de nós ouvistes, que é de Deus, acolhestes não como palavra de homens, e sim como, em verdade é, a palavra de Deus, a qual, com efeito, está operando eficazmente em vós, os que credes. 14 Tanto é assim, irmãos, que vos tornastes imitadores das igrejas de Deus existentes na Judeia em Cristo Jesus; porque também padecestes, da parte dos vossos patrícios, as mesmas coisas que eles, por sua vez, sofreram dos judeus, 15 os quais não somente mataram o Senhor Jesus e os profetas, como também nos perseguiram, e não agradam a Deus, e são adversários de todos os homens, 16 a ponto de nos impedirem de falar aos gentios para que estes sejam salvos, a fim de irem enchendo sempre a medida de seus pecados. A ira, porém, sobreveio contra eles, definitivamente.

17 Ora, nós, irmãos, orfanados, por breve tempo, de vossa presença, não, porém, do coração, com tanto mais empenho diligenciamos, com grande desejo, ir ver-vos pessoalmente. 18 Por isso, quisemos ir até vós (pelo menos eu, Paulo, não somente uma vez, mas duas); contudo, Satanás nos barrou o caminho. 19 Pois quem é a nossa esperança, ou alegria, ou coroa em que exultamos, na presença de nosso Senhor Jesus em sua vinda? Não sois vós? 20 Sim, vós sois realmente a nossa glória e a nossa alegria!

1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entering in unto you, that it hath not been found vain: 2 but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as ye know, at Philippi, we waxed bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God in much conflict. 3 For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 4 but even as we have been approved of God to be intrusted with the gospel, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God who proveth our hearts. 5 For neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness, God is witness; 6 nor seeking glory of men, neither from you nor from others, when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherisheth her own children: 8 even so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were well pleased to impart unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were become very dear to us. 9 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. 10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and righteously and unblamably we behaved ourselves toward you that believe: 11 as ye know how we dealt with each one of you, as a father with his own children, exhorting you, and encouraging you, and testifying, 12 to the end that ye should walk worthily of God, who calleth you into his own kingdom and glory.

13 And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, even the word of God, ye accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe. 14 For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judæa in Christ Jesus: for ye also suffered the same things of your own countrymen, even as they did of the Jews; 15 who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove out us, and please not God, and are contrary to all men; 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always: but the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

17 But we, brethren, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence not in heart, endeavored the more exceedingly to see your face with great desire: 18 because we would fain have come unto you, I Paul once and again; and Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even ye, before our Lord Jesus at his coming? 20 For ye are our glory and our joy.

1 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results.

2 We 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.

3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.

4 On 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.

5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed —God is our witness.

6 We 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.

7 Instead, we were like young children "among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,

8 so 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.

9 Surely 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.

10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.

11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,

12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

13 And 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.

14 For 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

15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone

16 in 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. [^2]

17 But, 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.

18 For we wanted to come to you —certainly I, Paul, did, again and again —but Satan blocked our way.

19 For 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?

20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.