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

¹ For you yourselves know, brothers, that my visit to you did not fail of its purpose; ² for you remember that although I had already borne ill-treatment and insult at Philippi, I took courage in my God to tell you the gospel of God, in the face of much opposition. ³ For my preaching was not grounded on a delusion, or on impure motives, on in deceit. ⁴ But as my fitness to be entrusted with the gospel has been tested and approved by God, I so speak, not to please men, but to please God, who is testing my motives. ⁵ For as you well know, I never resorted to flattery, nor to any pretext for enriching myself. God is my witness! ⁶ Now was I seeking glory from men, either yourselves or others, although I might have exercised authority as Christ's apostle. ⁷ On the contrary I showed myself among you as gentle as a mother, when she tenderly nurses her own children. ⁸ So in my fond affection it was my joy to give you, not only the gospel of God, but my very life also, because you had become dear to me. ⁹ You recall, brothers, my labor and toil; how, while working at my trade day and night, so as not to become a burden to any of you, I proclaimed to you the gospel of God. ¹⁰ You are witnesses??nd so is God??ow pure and just and blameless was my behavior among you believers. ¹¹ You know how I was wont to treat each of you as a father treats his children, ¹² exhorting and imploring and adjuring each one among you to lead a life worthy of the God who called you into his own kingdom and glory.