1 ¶ For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain:

2 On the contrary, although we had suffered before, and were, as you know, shamefully mistreated at Philippi, we were bold in our God to declare to you the gospel of God with great effort.

3 For our appeal does not spring from delusion, nor from impure motives, nor from deceit:

4 On the contrary, as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel; we do not speak to please men, but God, who examines our hearts.

5 For you know that we never used flattery, nor did we use some pretext to get money; to which God is witness:

6 Nor did we seek the praise of men, either from you, or from anyone else, although, as the apostles of Christ, we could have asserted our authority.

7 ¶ But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children:

8 We loved you so much, that we were willing to give you not only God’s gospel, but also our own souls, because you were dear to us.

9 For you remember, brethren, how hard we worked and struggled: laboring night and day, so as not to be a burden to any of you, while we preached God’s gospel to you.

10 You are witnesses, and so is God, as to how holy and righteous and blameless we were in your judgement, you that believe:

11 Just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and warning every one of you, as a father does his children,

12 That you would walk worthy of God, who has called you unto his kingdom and glory.

13 ¶ And we continually give thanks to God, because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you did not receive it as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectively works in you that believe.

14 For you, brethren, followed in the steps of the churches of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus: for you yourselves suffered the same things at the hands of your own countrymen, that they suffered at the hands of the Jews:

15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; they do not please God, and are hostile to all men:

16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles so that they might be saved, always piling up their sins: for wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.

17 ¶ But we, brethren, although torn away from you for a short time physically, but not in heart, made every effort to see you and were eager to do so.

18 For we resolved to come to you, I Paul in particular, on two different occasions; but Satan hindered us.

19 After all, what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing before our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?

20 Indeed you are our glory and our joy.