1 For ye yourselves brethren know of our entrance in unto you, how that it was not in vain:
2 but even after that we had suffered before and were shamefully entreated at Philippi - as ye well know - then were we bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God, with much striving.
3 Our exhortation was not to bring you to error, nor yet to uncleanness, neither was it with guile:
4 but as we were allowed of God, that the gospel should be committed unto us: even so we speak, not as though we intended to please men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
5 Neither was our conversation at any time with flattering words - as ye well know - neither in cloaked covetousness, God is record:
6 neither sought we praise of men, neither of you, nor yet of any other, when we might have been chargeable, as the apostles of Christ.
7 But were tender among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children,
8 so was our affection toward you. Our good will was to have dealt unto you, not the gospel of God only: but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
9 Ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail. For we laboured day and night, because we would not be grievous unto any of you, and preached unto you the gospel of God.
10 Ye are witnesses, and so is God, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
11 as ye know how that we exhorted and comforted, and besought every one of you, as a father his children,
12 that ye would walk worthy of God, which hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
13 For this cause thank we God without ceasing, because that when ye received of us the word, wherewith God was preached, ye received it not as the word of man: but even as it was, indeed, the word of God; which worketh in you that believe.
14 For ye brethren became followers of the congregations of God which in Jewry are in Christ Jesus: for ye have suffered like things of your kinsmen, as we ourselves have suffered of the Jews,
15 which as they killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, even so have they persecuted us, and God they please not, and are contrary to all men:
16 and forbid us to preach unto the gentiles, that they might be saved, to fulfill their sins always: For the wrath of God is come on them, even to the utmost.
17 Forasmuch, brethren, as we are kept from you for a season, as concerning the bodily presence - but not in the heart - we enforced the more to see you personally with great desire,
18 and therefore we would have come unto you, I Paul once and again: but Satan withstood us.
19 For what is our hope or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not ye it in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
20 Yea, ye are our glory and joy.