Dual Panel1For you yourselves<846> know<3609>, brethren<80>, that our coming<1529> to you was not in vain<2756>,
2but after we had already<4310> suffered<4310> and been mistreated<5195> in Philippi<5375>, as you know<3609>, we had<3955> the boldness<3955> in our God<2316> to speak<2980> to you the gospel<2098> of God<2316> amid<1722> much<4183> opposition<73>.
3For our exhortation<3874> does not come from error<4106> or<3761> impurity<167> or<3761> by way<1722> of deceit<1388>;
4but just<2531> as we have been approved<1381> by God<2316> to be entrusted<4100> with the gospel<2098>, so<3779> we speak<2980>, not as pleasing<700> men<444>, but God<2316> who examines<1381> our hearts<2588>.
5For we never<3777><4218> came<1096> with flattering<2850> speech<3056>, as you know<3609>, nor<3777> with a pretext<4392> for greed<4124>--God<2316> is witness<3144>--
6nor<3777> did we seek<2212> glory<1391> from men<444>, either<3777> from you or<3777> from others<243>, even though as apostles<652> of Christ<5547> we might have asserted<1510><922> our authority<922>.
7But we proved<1096> to be gentle<2261> among<1722><3319> you, as a nursing<5162> mother tenderly<2282> cares<2282> for her own<1438> children<5043>.
8Having<3655> so<3779> fond<3655> an affection<3655> for you, we were well-pleased<2106> to impart<3330> to you not only<3440> the gospel<2098> of God<2316> but also<2532> our own<1438> lives<5590>, because<1360> you had become<1096> very<27> dear<27> to us.
9For you recall<3421>, brethren<80>, our labor<2873> and hardship<3449>, how working<2038> night<3571> and day<2250> so<4314> as not to be a burden<1912> to any<5100> of you, we proclaimed<2784> to you the gospel<2098> of God<2316>.
10You are witnesses<3144>, and so is God<2316>, how<5613> devoutly<3743> and uprightly<1346> and blamelessly<274> we behaved<1096> toward you believers<4100>;
11just<2509> as you know<3609> how<5613> we were exhorting<3870> and encouraging<3888> and imploring<3143> each<1538> one<1520> of you as a father<3962> would his own<1438> children<5043>,
12so<1519> that you would walk<4043> in a manner<516> worthy<516> of the God<2316> who calls<2564> you into His own<1438> kingdom<932> and glory<1391>.
13For this<3778> reason<1223> we also<2532> constantly<89> thank<2168> God<2316> that when you received<3880> the word<3056> of God<2316> which<3739> you heard<191> from us, you accepted<1209> it not as the word<3056> of men<444>, but for what<2531> it really<230> is, the word<3056> of God<2316>, which<3739> also<2532> performs<1754> its work<1754> in you who believe<4100>.
14For you, brethren<80>, became<1096> imitators<3402> of the churches<1577> of God<2316> in Christ<5547> Jesus<2424> that are in Judea<2453>, for you also<2532> endured<3958> the same<846> sufferings<3958> at the hands<5259> of your own<2398> countrymen<4853>, even<2531> as they did from the Jews<2453>,
15who both<2532> killed<615> the Lord<2962> Jesus<2424> and the prophets<4396>, and drove<1559> us out. They are not pleasing<700> to God<2316>, but hostile<1727> to all<3956> men<444>,
16hindering<2967> us from speaking<2980> to the Gentiles<1484> so<2443> that they may be saved<4982>; with the result that they always<3842> fill<378> up the measure<378> of their sins<266>. But wrath<3709> has come<5348> upon them to the utmost<5056>.
17But we, brethren<80>, having been taken<642> away<642> from you for a short<2540><5610> while<5610>--in person<4383>, not in spirit<2588>--were all<4053> the more<4053> eager<4704> with great<4183> desire<1939> to see<3708> your face<4383>.
18For we wanted<2309> to come<2064> to you--I, Paul<3972>, more<2532><1364> than<2532> once<530>--and yet Satan<4567> hindered<1465> us.
19For who<5101> is our hope<1680> or<2228> joy<5479> or<2228> crown<4735> of exultation<2746>? Is it not even<2532> you, in the presence<1715> of our Lord<2962> Jesus<2424> at His coming<3952>?
20For you are our glory<1391> and joy<5479>.