Paul’s Ministry

2 You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain. 2 As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God.

3 For our appeal does not arise from deceit [or] ulterior motives [or] trickery. 4 Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts. 5 As you know, we never used words of flattery [or] [any] pretext for greed. God [is] [our] witness! 6 Nor did we seek praise from you [or] from anyone else, [although] as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand [it]

7 On the contrary, we were gentle among you like a nursing mother caring for her children. 8 We cared so deeply [that] we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.

9 Surely you recall brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You [are] witnesses, and [so is] God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed. 11 For you know that [we treated] each of you as a father [treats] his own children—12 encouraging [you], comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

13 And we continually thank God because when you received [the] word of God that you heard from us, you accepted [it] not [as the] word of men, but as it truly is [the] word of God, which is also [now] at work in you who believe.

14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus. You suffered from [your] own countrymen the very things they [suffered] from the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets and drove us out {as well} They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men, 16 hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they may be saved. As a result, {they} continue to heap up their sins {to full capacity}; the utmost wrath has come upon them.[fn]