1 F or you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain.

For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming among you was not useless and fruitless.

2 B ut even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.

But though we had already suffered and been outrageously treated at Philippi, as you know, yet in our God we summoned courage to proclaim to you unfalteringly the good news (the Gospel) with earnest contention and much conflict and great opposition.

3 F or our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.

For our appeal does not from delusion or error or impure purpose or motive, nor in fraud or deceit.

4 B ut as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.

But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the glad tidings (the Gospel), so we speak not to please men but to please God, Who tests our hearts '> expecting them to be approved].

5 F or neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness.

For as you well know, we never resorted either to words of flattery or to any cloak to conceal greedy motives or pretexts for gain, God is our witness.

6 N or did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.

Nor did we seek to extract praise and honor and glory from men, either from you or from anyone else, though we might have asserted our authority as apostles (special missionaries) of Christ (the Messiah).

7 B ut we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

But we behaved gently when we were among you, like a devoted mother nursing and cherishing her own children.

8 S o, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

So, being thus tenderly and affectionately desirous of you, we continued to share with you not only God’s good news (the Gospel) but also our own lives as well, for you had become so very dear to us.

9 F or you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

For you recall our hard toil and struggles, brethren. We worked night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you while we proclaimed the glad tidings (the Gospel) of God to you.

10 Y ou are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;

You are witnesses, and God, how unworldly and upright and blameless was our behavior toward you believers.

11 a s you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children,

For you know how, as a father his children, we used to exhort each of you personally, stimulating and encouraging and charging you

12 t hat you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. Their Conversion

To live lives worthy of God, Who calls you into His own kingdom and the glorious blessedness '> into which true believers will enter after Christ’s return].

13 F or this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

And we also thank God continually for this, that when you received the message of God from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the Word of God, which is effectually at work in you who believe '> exercising its superhuman power in those who adhere to and trust in and rely on it].

14 F or you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans,

For you, brethren, became imitators of the assemblies (churches) of God in Christ Jesus which are in Judea, for you too have suffered the same kind of treatment from your own fellow countrymen as they did of the Jews,

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

Who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and harassed and drove us out, and continue to make themselves hateful and offensive to God and to show themselves foes of all men,

16 f orbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost. Longing to See Them

Forbidding and hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles (the nations) that they may be saved. So as always they fill up their sins. But God’s wrath has come upon them at last!

17 B ut we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire.

But since we were bereft of you, brethren, for a little while in person, not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great longing to see you face to face,

18 T herefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us.

Because it was our will to come to you. I, Paul, again and again, but Satan hindered and impeded us.

19 F or what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?

For what is our hope or happiness or our victor’s wreath of exultant triumph when we stand in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you?

20 F or you are our glory and joy.

For you are our glory and our joy!