2
1 For
you yourselves
know, brothers, our visit
to you wasn’t
in vain,
2 but
having suffered
before and
been shamefully treated, as
you know, at
Philippi, we grew
bold in our
God to tell
you the Good
News of God
in much conflict.
3 For
our exhortation is
not of error,
nor of uncleanness,
nor in deception.
4 But
even as we
have been approved
by God to
be entrusted with
the Good News,
so we speak—not
as pleasing men,
but God, who tests
our hearts.
5 For
neither were we
at any time
found using words
of flattery, as
you know, nor
a cloak of
covetousness (God
is witness),
6 nor
seeking glory from
men (neither from
you nor
from others), when
we might
have claimed authority
as apostles of
Christ.
7 But
we were gentle
among you, like
a nursing mother
cherishes her own
children.
8 Even
so, affectionately longing for
you, we were
well pleased to
impart to you
not the Good
News of God
only, but also
our own souls,
because you had
become very dear
to us.
9 For
you remember, brothers,
our labor and
travail; for
working night and
day, that we
might not burden
any of you,
we preached to
you the Good
News of God.
10 You
are witnesses with
God how holy,
righteously, and blamelessly
we behaved
ourselves toward you
who believe.
11 As
you know, we
exhorted, comforted,
and implored every
one of you,
as a father
does his own
children,
12 to
the end that
you should
walk worthily of
God, who calls
you into his
own Kingdom and
glory.
13 For
this cause we
also thank God
without ceasing that
when you received
from us the
word of the
message of God,
you accepted it
not as the
word of men,
but as it
is in truth, God’s
word, which also
works in you
who believe.
14 For
you, brothers, became
imitators of the
assemblies of God
which are in
Judea in Christ
Jesus; for you
also suffered the
same things from
your own
countrymen, even
as they did
from the Jews
15 who killed
both the Lord
Jesus and their own
prophets, and
drove us out,
and don’t please
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 wrath
has come on
them to the
uttermost.
17 But
we, brothers, being bereaved
of you for
a short season
in presence, not
in heart, tried
even harder to see
your face with
great desire,
18 because
we wanted to
come to you—indeed, I, Paul, once
and again—but
Satan hindered us.
19 For
what is our
hope, or joy,
or crown of
rejoicing? Isn’t
it even you,
before our Lord
Jesus
at his coming?
20 For
you are our
glory and our
joy.