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 gospel 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 gospel, 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 of you, as when a nurse cherishes her own children.
8 Even so, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart
to you, not the gospel 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 gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses with God,
how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who
believe. 11 As you know how 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, the word of God, 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 didn'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*1 at his coming? 20 For you are our glory and our joy.
1 TR adds
"Christ"
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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