1 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you has not been in vain. 2 But after we had suffered and been shamefully treated in Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to speak the gospel of God to you amid great struggle. 3 For our appeal does not come from error or impurity, nor is it made in deceit. 4 Instead, just as God has approved us to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 5 For we never came with flattering words, as you know, or with a pretext for greed—God is witness— 6 nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, 7 though as apostles of Christ we could have been a burden. Instead, we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 So, longing for you, we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become beloved to us.

9 For you remember, brothers and sisters, our labor and toil. Working night and day so as not to burden any of you, we proclaimed the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, of how devoutly, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved toward you who believe. 11 As you know, we dealt with each one of you as a father with his own children, 12 exhorting you, encouraging you, and urging you to walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

13 And for this reason we too thank God without ceasing: when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it truly is, the word of God, which is also at work in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and drove us out, who do not please God and are opposed to all people, 16 hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved, and thus always filling up their sins. But wrath has overtaken them to the full.

17 But we, brothers and sisters, having been torn away from you for a short time—in person, not in heart—made all the more effort, with great longing, to see your faces. 18 For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you as well? 20 For you are our glory and joy.