1For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not a waste of time.
2As you know, even though we had previously suffered and been treated shamefully in Philippi, we had the courage in our God to boldly tell you the Good News of God in the midst of much struggle.
3Our appeal does not come from error, impurity, or deceit.
4We were approved by God to be trusted with the Good News, so that's how we speak. We don't try to please people, but God, who examines our true intentions.
5As you know, we never used flattering words, nor did we hide our greed (God is our witness).
6We never looked for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though we could have used our authority as apostles of Christ.
7Instead, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.
8Because we cared for you so deeply, we were happy to share with you not only God's Good News but also our very lives, because you had become so special to us.
9Brothers, you remember how hard we worked. We toiled day and night, preaching God's Good News to you, so we wouldn't be a burden to any of you.
10You and God are witnesses of how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved toward you who believe.
11As you know, we encouraged, comforted, and urged each one of you, just as a father does his own children,
12so that you would live lives worthy of God, who is calling you into his own Kingdom and glory.
13For this reason, we constantly thank God that when you received the message of God's word from us, you accepted it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.
14For you, brothers, became like God's churches in Judea that are in Christ Jesus. You also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they suffered from the Jewish people.
15These people killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and they drove us out. They do not please God and are against everyone,
16preventing us from speaking to the non-Jewish people so they might be saved. They are always completing the measure of their sins. But God's complete wrath has now come upon them.
17But brothers, even though we were separated from you for a short time—in person, but not in heart—we tried even harder to see you again with great desire.
18We wanted to come to you—I, Paul, tried more than once—but Satan blocked our way.
19What is our hope, our joy, or the crown we will boast about? Isn't it you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?
20Indeed, you are our glory and our joy.