Paul’s Ministry
1 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our 2:1 Or coming to youreception among you was not in vain, 2 but 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 2:2 Or duringamid much 2:2 Or struggle; or conflictopposition. 3 For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or 2:3 Lit in deceitby way of deceit; 4 but 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 2:4 Or approvesexamines our hearts. 5 For we never came 2:5 Lit in a word of flatterywith flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext 2:5 I.e., to conceal greedfor greed—God is our witness— 6 nor did we seek honor from people, either from you or from others, though 2:6 Lit being able towe could have 2:6 Or been burdensome asasserted our authority as apostles of Christ. 7 But we 2:7 Or became gentleproved to be 2:7 Three early mss infantsgentle 2:7 Lit in the midst of youamong you. As a nursing mother2:7 Or cherishestenderly cares for her own children, 8 in 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 2:8 Or soulslives, because you had become 2:8 Lit belovedvery dear to us.
9 For 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. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly and rightly and blamelessly we 2:10 Lit becamebehaved toward you 2:10 Or who believebelievers; 11 just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, 12 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
13 For 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. 14 For 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, 15 who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and 2:15 Or persecuted usdrove us out. 2:15 Lit andThey are not pleasing to God, 2:15 Lit andbut hostile to all people, 16 hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always 2:16 Lit complete theirreach the limit of their sins. But wrath has come upon them 2:16 Or forever; lit to the endfully.
17 But we, brothers and sisters, having been orphaned from you by absence for a 2:17 Lit occasion of an hourshort while—in 2:17 Lit faceperson, not in 2:17 Lit heartspirit—were all the more eager with great desire to see your face. 18 2:18 Or BecauseFor we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, 2:18 Lit both once and twicemore than once—and Satan hindered us. 19 For who is our hope, or joy or crown of pride, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His 2:19 Or presencecoming? Or is it not indeed you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.