Paul’s Ministry

1For you yourselves know, brothers, that our entrance to you⁺ has not been in vain. 2But having previously suffered and having been mistreated (just as you⁺ know) in Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak to you⁺ the gospel of God in much struggle.

3For our exhortation was not out of deceit, nor out of impurity, nor in trickery; 4but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, the One proving our hearts. 5For neither at any time were we with a word of flattery, just as you⁺ know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness— 6nor seeking glory from men, nor from you⁺, nor from others, though having power to be with authority as apostles of Christ.†

7But we were gentle in your⁺ midst,† as a nursing mother should cherish her own children. 8So yearning over you⁺, we were well pleased to have imparted to you⁺ not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you⁺ have become beloved to us.

9For you⁺ remember, brothers, our labor and toil: Working night and day in order not to be burdensome upon any of you⁺, we proclaimed to you⁺ the gospel of God. 10You⁺ are witnesses, and God, how devoutly and righteously and blamelessly we behaved toward you⁺, those believing, 11just as you⁺ know how, each one of you⁺, as a father his own children, 12we were exhorting and comforting you⁺ and charging unto you⁺ to walk worthily of God, the One calling you⁺ into His own kingdom and glory.

13And because of this, we also give thanks to God unceasingly that, having received the word of God, hearing from us, you⁺ accepted, not the word of men, but just as truly it is, the word of God, which also works in you⁺, those believing.

14For you⁺ became imitators, brothers, of the churches of God being in Judea in Christ Jesus, because you⁺ also suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they also did from the Jews, 15who, having killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets,† and having driven us out; and they are not pleasing God and contrary to all men, 16forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles so that they might be saved, so as to fill up their sins always. Now the wrath has come upon them to the end.†

Paul’s Longing to Visit

17But we, brothers, having been bereaved of you⁺ for the time of an hour—in face, not in heart—were more abundantly eager with much desire to see your⁺ face. 18Therefore we wanted to come to you⁺—indeed I, Paul, both once and twice—and Satan obstructed us. 19For who is our hope or joy or crown of boasting? Or are not even you⁺, before our Lord Jesus† at His coming? 20For you⁺ are our glory and joy.

Footnotes:

6 Or although as apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you; SBL, NE, and WH include this phrase with verse 7.
7 WH and NA we were like young children among you
15 BYZ and TR their own prophets
16 Or at last the wrath has come upon them.
19 GOC and TR our Lord Jesus Christ