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you yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not without result. 2 Although we had suffered before and were shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we were made bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in spite of strong opposition. 3 For the appeal we make does not come from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to deceive you. 4 Instead, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men, but rather God, who tests our hearts. 5 For we never used flattering words, as you know, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We did not seek glory from men, not from you or from others.
7 As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you. Instead, we were gentle among you, like a mother tenderly nursing her own children. 8 We do care for you so deeply that we were well pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become so dear to us. 9 For you remember, brothers, our labour and toil; we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you while we preached the gospel of God to you.
10 We are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we conducted ourselves among you who believed. 11 As you know, we dealt with each of you like a father with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting, and urging each one of you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
13 We also constantly give thanks to God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, since you also 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 also persecuted us. They displease God and are hostile to all men, 16 hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Through doing this, they are always filling up the measure of their sins, but God’s wrath has overtaken them at last.
17 But as for us, brothers, when we were forced to leave you for a short time (though in person, not in heart), we earnestly longed and made every effort to see you face-to-face. 18 For we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of rejoicing in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy!