1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 - Paul's Approach To Ministry In Thessalonica

¹ For [you] yourselves know, brothers, our reception with you, that it was not in vain, ² but [after we] had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, just as you know, we had the courage in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition. ³ For our exhortation [is] not from error or from impurity or with deceit, ⁴ but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, thus we speak, not as pleasing people but God, who examines our hearts. ⁵ {For never} did we come with a word of flattery, just as you know, nor with a pretext of greediness (God [is] witness), ⁶ nor seeking glory from people, neither from you nor from others. ⁷ {Although we could have insisted on our own importance} as apostles of Christ, yet we became infants in your midst, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children. ⁸ Longing for you in this way, we determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own souls, because you had become dear to us. ⁹ For you remember, brothers, our labor and hardship: working by night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. ¹⁰ You [are] witnesses, and [so is] God, how devoutly and righteously and blamelessly we became to you who believe, ¹¹ just as you know how [we treated] each one of you, like a father his own children, ¹² exhorting and consoling you and insisting that you live in a manner worthy of God, who calls you to his own kingdom and glory.