Being conscious, my brothers, dear to God, that you have been marked out by God's purpose;

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in great fulness of assurance; as ye know what manner of men we have been among you for your sakes.

For the word of the Lord has been sounded forth from you, and its sound has been heard not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place where the tidings of your faith toward God have been spread abroad, so that I have no need to speak of it.

For ye know yourselves, brethren, our entering in which we had to you, that it has not been in vain;

but after we had already suffered and been outrageously treated in Philippi, as you know, yet in [the strength of] our God we summoned the courage to proclaim boldly to you the good news of God [regarding salvation] amid great opposition.

But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel [that tells the good news of salvation through faith in Christ], so we speak, not as [if we were trying] to please people [to gain power and popularity], but to please God who examines our hearts [expecting our best].

For we have not at any time been among you with flattering discourse, even as ye know, nor with a pretext for covetousness, God is witness;

Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

But we became gentle in your midst, - as though, a nursing mother, had been cherishing her own children:

Thus, yearning after you, we could have been well-pleased to impart unto you - not only the glad-message of God, but, our own lives also, - because, very dear to us, had ye become.

Now, we, brethren, having been bereaved away from you, for the season of an hour, - in presence, not in heart, gave more abundant diligence, your face, to behold, with much longing;

this I Paul have frequently attempted, but Satan has been my obstacle.

so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this.

for we told you beforehand, when we were with you, that "we Christians are to have trouble" ??and, as you know, it has been so.)

So, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to find out about your faith, fearing that the tempter had tempted you and that my labor had been in vain.

I have been comforted, my brothers, in regard to you, in spite of all my distress and affliction over your faith.

how can I be sufficiently thankful to God upon your account, for all the joy, which by your means we have been affected with,

Now as to brotherly love, you have no need of anyone's writing you, for you have yourselves been taught by God to love one another,

And I wish you not to be ignorant, brethren, of them having been asleep, that ye should not grieve, as also the rest, they hating no hope.

So then, go on comforting and building up one another, as you have been doing.

God, by whom you have been marked out in his purpose, is unchanging and will make it complete.