1 For yourselves, brothers, know our entrance in to you, that it was not in vain:
2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as you know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to tell you the Good News of God in much contention.
3 For our encouragement was not out of straying from the path, nor out of impurity, nor out of guile:
4 But as we were allowed by God to be entrusted with the Good News, in the same way we speak, not as pleasing humanity, but God, Who examines our innermost minds.
5 For neither at any time did we use flattering utterances, as you know, nor a show of pretense to cloak covetousness; God is witness.
6 We neither sought the praise of men nor of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome as the apostles of Christ. *
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherishes her children:
8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted to you, not the Good News of God only, but also our own lives, because you were dear to us.
9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail, for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable to any of you, we proclaimed to you the Good News of God.
10 You are witnesses, and God also, how piously and justly and blamelessly we were among you who believe.
11 As you know how we exhorted and comforted and commanded every one of you, as a father does his children,
12 so that you would walk worthy of God, Who has called you to His Kingdom and Glory. *
13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when you received the utterance of God which you heard from us, you received it, not as human utterance, but as it is in truth, the Utterance of God, Which effectually works also in you who believe.
14 For you, brothers, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for you also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: *
16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins always: for the wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.
17 But we, brothers, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in innermost mind, endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
18 Therefore we would have come to you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our divinely inspired expectation, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His abiding presence? *
20 For you are our glory and joy.