I am continually thanking God for all, always making mention of you in my prayers,

for my gospel did not come to you in word only, but in power also, and in the Holy Spirit, and with deep conviction. For you know also the manner in which I behaved myself among you for your sakes.

For you yourselves know, brothers, that my visit to you did not fail of its purpose;

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.

For my preaching was not grounded on a delusion, or on impure motives, on in deceit.

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.

For as you well know, I never resorted to flattery, nor to any pretext for enriching myself. God is my witness!

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.

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.

You are witnesses??nd so is God??ow pure and just and blameless was my behavior among you believers.

For this reason also I am giving continual thanks to God, because when you heard from me the spoken word of God, you received it not as the word of men, but as the word of God (which in truth it is), who himself is effectually at work in you believe.

They forbid me to speak to the Gentiles with a view to their salvation. They continue always to fill up the measure of their sins; but the wrath of God is come upon them to the full!

But I, my brothers, although torn from you for a short season (in presence, not in heart), made eager efforts to behold you face to face with strong longing.

For that reason I would fain have visited you??, Paul, again and again??ut Satan hindered me.

For what is my hope, or joy? What is the victor's wreath in which I exult? What but your own selves in the presence of our Lord Jesus, at his coming!

For you are my pride and my delight.

And so, when I could no longer bear it, I made up my mind to be left behind at Athens, all alone.

I sent Timothy, my brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and to hearten you in your faith.

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.

But now that Timothy has returned from you to me, and has brought good news of your faith and love, and that you are still holding me in affectionate remembrance, always longing to see me as I also am longing to see you.

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

For what thanksgiving can I render again to God in your behalf, in return for all the joy which you cause me in the presence of my God?

Night and day I am praying earnestly that I may see you face to face, and may perfect whatever is yet lacking in your faith.

Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct my path to you.

Meanwhile, may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all men, even as I do toward you.

And so may he establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus, with all his saints.

Finally then, my brothers, I continue to beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you learned of me how to walk so as to please God??nd you are actually doing so??hat you abound in it yet more and more.

So that your conduct may be seemly toward those that are without, and that you may not need help from any man.

He died for us, in order that whether we are keeping vigil in life or sleeping in death we may ever be living together with him.

May the God of peace consecrate you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept altogether faultless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He who calls you is faithful; he will fulfil my prayer.

Brothers, pray for me.