1Brothers and sisters, you yourselves know that our coming to you was not wasted.
2Before that, as you know, we had suffered and been treated shamefully at Philippi. Yet our God made us bold to tell you the gospel of God, in spite of much opposition.
3For our appeal did not come from error, or from impure motives, or from any trick.
4God tested us and trusted us with the gospel, and so we speak. We are not trying to please people, but God, who tests our hearts.
5We never used flattering words, as you know, and we never used a cover-up for greed. God is our witness.
6We did not look for glory from people, not from you or from anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have made demands on you.
7Instead we were gentle among you, like a nurse caring for her own children.
8We loved you so much that we were glad to share with you not only the gospel of God but our own lives as well, because you had become dear to us.
9Brothers and sisters, you remember how hard we worked and toiled. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you, while we preached the gospel of God to you.
10You are witnesses, and God is too, of how holy and right and blameless our conduct was among you who believe.
11You know how we dealt with each one of you, as a father deals with his own children. We urged you, we comforted you, and we charged you
12to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
13For this reason we also thank God without stopping. When you received the word of God that you heard from us, you did not take it as the word of men. You took it for what it truly is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.
14Brothers and sisters, you became like the churches of God in Judaea that are in Christ Jesus. You suffered the same things from your own countrymen that they suffered from the Jews,
15who killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have driven us out. They do not please God, and they are against everyone.
16They try to stop us from speaking to the Gentiles so that the Gentiles may be saved. In this way they keep filling up their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last.
17Brothers and sisters, we were parted from you for a short time, in person but not in heart. So we tried all the harder, with great longing, to see you face to face.
18That is why we wanted to come to you. I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan stopped us.
19For what is our hope, or joy, or crown that we boast in? Is it not you, before our Lord Jesus Christ when he comes?
20Yes, you are our glory and joy.