Dual Panel1For <1063> you yourselves know <1492>, brothers and sisters <80>, about our <2257> coming <1529> to <4314> you <5209>– it has <1096> not <3756> proven to be purposeless <1096>.
2But <235> although we suffered earlier <4310> and <2532> were mistreated <5195> in <1722> Philippi <5375>, as <2531> you know <1492>, we had the courage <3955> in <1722> our <2257> God <2316> to declare <2980> to <4314> you <5209> the gospel <2098> of God <2316> in <1722> spite of much <4183> opposition <73>.
3For <1063> the appeal <3874> we <2257> make does not <3756> come from <1537> error <4106> or <3761> impurity <167> or <3761> with <1722> deceit <1388>,
4but <235> just as <2531> we have been approved <1381> by <5259> God <2316> to be entrusted <4100> with the gospel <2098>, so <3779> we declare <2980> it, not <3756> to please <700> people <444> but <235> God <2316>, who examines <1381> our <2257> hearts <2588>.
5For <1063> we never <3777> appeared <1096> with <1722> flattering <2850> speech <3056>, as <2531> you know <1492>, nor <3777> with a pretext <4392> for greed <4124>– God <2316> is our witness <3144>–
6nor <3777> to seek <2212> glory <1391> from <1537> people <444>, either <3777> from <575> you <5216> or from <575> others <243>,
7although we could have imposed our weight as apostles of Christ; instead we became <1096> little children <3516> among <3319> you <5216>. Like <5613> a nursing mother <5162> caring <2282> for her own <1438> children <5043>,
8with such <3779> affection <2442> for you <5216> we were happy <2106> to share <3330> with you <5213> not <3756> only <3440> the gospel <2098> of God <2316> but <235> also <2532> our own <1438> lives <5590>, because <1360> you had become <1096> dear <27> to us <2254>.
9For <1063> you recall <3421>, brothers and sisters <80>, our <2257> toil <2873> and <2532> drudgery <3449>: By working <2038> night <3571> and <2532> day <2250> so as not <3361> to impose <4314> a burden <1912> on any <5100> of you <5216>, we preached <2784> to <1519> you <5209> the gospel <2098> of God <2316>.
10You <5210> are witnesses <3144>, and <2532> so is God <2316>, as <5613> to how holy <3743> and <2532> righteous <1346> and <2532> blameless <274> our conduct was <1096> toward you <5213> who believe <4100>.
11As <2509> you know <1492>, we treated <3870> each one <1538> of you <5216> as <5613> a father <3962> treats <3888> his own <1438> children <5043>,
12exhorting and <2532> encouraging <3143> you and insisting that you <5209> live <4043> in a way worthy <516> of God <2316> who calls <2564> you <5209> to <1519> his own <1438> kingdom <932> and <2532> his glory <1391>.
13And <2532> so <1223> we <2249> too <2532> constantly <89> thank <2168> God <2316> that <3754> when you received <3880> God’s <2316> message <3056> that you heard <189> from <3844> us <2257>, you accepted <1209> it not <3756> as a human <444> message <3056>, but <235> as <2531> it truly <230> is <1510>, God’s <2316> message <3056>, which <3739> is at work <1754> among <1722> you <5213> who believe <4100>.
14For <1063> you became <1096> imitators <3402>, brothers and sisters <80>, of God’s <2316> churches <1577> in <1722> Christ <5547> Jesus <2424> that are <1510> in <1722> Judea <2449>, because <3754> you <5210> too <2532> suffered <3958> the same things <846> from <5259> your own <2398> countrymen <4853> as <2531> they <846> in fact did from <5259> the Jews <2453>,
15who killed <615> both <2532> the Lord <2962> Jesus <2424> and <2532> the prophets <4396> and <2532> persecuted <1559> us <2248> severely <1559>. They are displeasing <700> displeasing <3361> to God <2316> and <2532> are opposed <1727> to all <3956> people <444>,
16because they hinder <2967> us <2248> from speaking <2980> to the Gentiles <1484> so that <2443> they may be saved <4982>. Thus they constantly fill up <378> their measure of sins <266>, but <1161> wrath <3709> has come <5348> upon <1909> them <846> completely <1519> <5056>.
17But <1161> when we <2249> were separated <642> from <575> you <5216>, brothers and sisters <80>, for <4314> a short <5610> time <2540> (in presence <4383>, not <3756> in affection <2588>) we became <4704> all the more <4056> fervent <4704> in <1722> our great <4183> desire <1939> to see <1492> you <5216> in person <4383>.
18For <1360> we wanted <2309> to come <2064> to <4314> you <5209> (I <1473>, Paul <3972>, in fact tried again and again <530> <2532> <1364>) but <2532> Satan <4567> thwarted <1465> us <2248>.
19For <1063> who <5101> is our <2257> hope <1680> or <2228> joy <5479> or <2228> crown <4735> to boast of <2746> before <1715> our <2257> Lord <2962> Jesus <2424> at <1722> his <846> coming <3952>? Is it not <3780> of course you <5210>?
20For <1063> you <5210> are <1510> our <2257> glory <1391> and <2532> joy <5479>!