1 C hristian brothers, you know that my visit with you was not wasted.

For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain.

2 J ust before we came to you, we had been in the city of Philippi. You know how they worked against us and made us suffer. But God helped us preach the Good News to you without fear, even while many people hated us and made it hard for us.

But 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.

3 Y ou remember what we said to you was true. We had no wrong desire in teaching you. We did not try to fool you.

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

4 G od has allowed us to be trusted with the Good News. Because of this, we preach it to please God, not man. God tests and proves our hearts.

But 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.

5 Y ou know we never used smooth-sounding words. God knows we never tried to get money from you by preaching.

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

6 W e never looked for thanks from men, not from you or from anyone else. But because we were missionaries of Christ, we could have asked you to do much for us.

Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.

7 I nstead, we were gentle when we came to you. We were like a mother caring for her children.

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

8 W e had such a strong desire to help you that we were happy to give you the Good News. Because we loved you so much, we were ready to give you our own lives also.

So, 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.

9 Y ou remember, Christian brothers, we worked night and day for our food and clothes while we preached the Good News to you. We did not want to make it hard for you.

For 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.

10 Y ou know, and so does God, how pure and right and without blame we were among you who believe.

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

11 A s a father helps his children, you know how we wanted to help you and give you comfort. We told you with strong words

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

12 t hat you should live to please God. He is the One Who chose you to come into His holy nation and to share His shining-greatness.

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

13 W e always thank God that when you heard the Word of God from us, you believed it. You did not receive it as from men, but you received it as the Word of God. That is what it is. It is at work in the lives of you who believe.

For 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.

14 C hristian brothers, you became just like the churches in the country of Judea. You had to suffer from the men in your country as those churches had to suffer from the Jews.

For 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,

15 I t was the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus and the early preachers. The Jews made it hard for us and made us leave. They do not please God and are working against all men.

who 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,

16 T hey tried to keep us from preaching the Good News to the people who are not Jews. The Jews do not want them saved from the punishment of sin. The lives of the Jews are full of more sin all the time. But now God’s anger has come to them at last.

forbidding 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

17 C hristian brothers, because we have not been able to be with you, our hearts have been with you. We have wanted very much to see you.

But 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.

18 W e wanted to come to you. I, Paul, have tried to come to you more than once but Satan kept us from coming.

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

19 W ho is our hope or joy or crown of happiness? It is you, when you stand before our Lord Jesus Christ when He comes again.

For 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?

20 Y ou are our pride and joy.

For you are our glory and joy.