[1] For you yourselves know, brethren, that our visit to you was not in
vain; [2] but though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at
Philip'pi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the
gospel of God in the face of great opposition. [3] For our appeal does not
spring from error or uncleanness, nor is it made with guile; [4] but just
as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we
speak, not to please men, but to please God who tests our hearts. [5] For
we never used either words of flattery, as you know, or a cloak for greed,
as God is witness; [6] nor did we seek glory from men, whether from you or
from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. [7]
But we were gentle among you, like a nurse taking care of her children. [8]
So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you
not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become
very dear to us. [9] For you remember our labor and toil, brethren; we
worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you, while we
preached to you the gospel of God. [10] You are witnesses, and God also,
how holy and righteous and blameless was our behavior to you believers;
[11] for you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each
one of you and encouraged you and charged you [12] to lead a life worthy of
God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. [13] And we also thank
God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you
heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really
is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. [14] For you,
brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus which are
in Judea; for you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they
did from the Jews, [15] who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets,
and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all men [16] by hindering us
from speaking to the Gentiles that they may be saved--so as always to fill
up the measure of their sins. But God's wrath has come upon them at last!
[17] But since we were bereft of you, brethren, for a short time, in person
not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see
you face to face; [18] because we wanted to come to you--I, Paul, again and
again--but Satan hindered us. [19] For what is our hope or joy or crown of
boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? [20] For you
are our glory and joy.
