1 You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure.
2We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.
3For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.
4On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.
5You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed–God is our witness.
6We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.
7As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.
8We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.
9Surely you remember, brothers, 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, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.
11For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,
12encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
13And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.
14For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews,
15who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men
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, brothers, when we were torn away 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– certainly I, Paul, did, again and again– but Satan stopped us.
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?
20Indeed, you are our glory and joy.