Paul’s Ministry 1 CPDV For you yourselves know, brothers, that our acceptance among you was not empty. BSB BSB: You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain.
2 CPDV Instead, having previously suffered and been treated shamefully, as you know, at Philippi, we had confidence in our God, so as to speak the Gospel of God to you with much solicitude. BSB BSB: 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 CPDV For our exhortation was not in error, nor from impurity, nor with deception. BSB BSB: For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.
4 CPDV But, just as we have been tested by God, so that the Gospel would be entrusted to us, so also did we speak, not so as to please men, but rather to please God, who tests our hearts. BSB BSB: 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 CPDV And neither did we, at any time, become flattering in speech, as you know, nor did we seek an opportunity for avarice, as God is witness. BSB BSB: As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!
6 CPDV Nor did we seek the glory of men, neither from you, nor from others. BSB BSB: Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.
7 CPDV And although we could have been a burden to you, as Apostles of Christ, instead we became like little ones in your midst, like a nurse cherishing her children. BSB BSB: On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.
8 CPDV So desirous were we for you that we were willing to hand over to you, not only the Gospel of God, but even our own souls. For you have become most beloved to us. BSB BSB: 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 CPDV For you remember, brothers, our hardship and weariness. We preached the Gospel of God among you, working night and day, so that we would not be burdensome to any of you. BSB BSB: 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 CPDV You are witnesses, as is God, of how holy and just and blameless we were with you who have believed. BSB BSB: You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.
11 CPDV And you know the manner, with each one of you, like a father with his sons, BSB BSB: For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children—
12 CPDV in which we were pleading with you and consoling you, bearing witness, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of God, who has called you into his kingdom and glory. BSB BSB: 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 CPDV For this reason also, we give thanks to God without ceasing: because, when you had accepted from us the Word of the hearing of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but (as it truly is) as the Word of God, who is working in you who have believed. BSB BSB: 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 CPDV For you, brothers, have become imitators of the churches of God which are at Judea, in Christ Jesus. For you, too, have suffered the same things from your fellow countrymen as they have suffered from the Jews, BSB BSB: 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 CPDV who also killed both the Lord Jesus, and the Prophets, and who have persecuted us. But they do not please God, and so they are adversaries to all men. BSB BSB: 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 CPDV They prohibit us to speak to the Gentiles, so that they may be saved, and thus do they continually add to their own sins. But the wrath of God will overtake them in the very end. BSB BSB: 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.
Paul’s Longing to Visit 17 CPDV And we, brothers, having been deprived of you for a short time, in sight, but not in heart, have hurried all the more to see your face, with a great desire. BSB BSB: Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense.
18 CPDV For we wanted to come to you, (indeed, I, Paul, attempted to do so once, and then again,) but Satan impeded us. BSB BSB: For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us.
19 CPDV For what is our hope, and our joy, and our crown of glory? Is it not you, before our Lord Jesus Christ at his return? BSB BSB: After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?
20 CPDV For you are our glory and our joy. BSB BSB: You are indeed our glory and our joy.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.