Paul’s Ministry 1 UEB For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not useless. BSB BSB: You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain.
2 UEB You know that we previously suffered and were shamefully treated at Philippi. We were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much struggling. 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 UEB For our exhortation was not from error, nor from impurity, nor from deceit. BSB BSB: For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.
4 UEB Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be trusted with the gospel, so we speak. We speak, not to please men, but to please God. He is the one who examines 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 UEB For we never used words of flattery, as you know, nor as an excuse to cover up greed— God is our witness. BSB BSB: As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!
6 UEB Nor did we seek glory from people, either from you or from others. We could have claimed privileges as apostles of Christ. 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 UEB Instead, we were as gentle among you as a mother comforting her own children. BSB BSB: On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.
8 UEB In this way we had affection for you. We were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives. For you had become very dear 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 UEB For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil. Night and day we were working so that we might not weigh down any of you. During that time, we preached to you the gospel of God. 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 UEB You are witnesses, and God also, how holy, righteous, and blameless was our behavior toward you who believe. BSB BSB: You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.
11 UEB In the same way you know how we dealt with each one of you as a father deals with his own children. BSB BSB: For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children—
12 UEB We were begging you and encouraging and urging you to walk in a manner that is worthy of God, who calls you into his own 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 UEB For this reason we also thank God constantly. For when you received from us God's message that you heard, you accepted it not as the word of man. Instead, you received it as it truly is, the word of God. It is this word that is also at work among you who believe. 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 UEB For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, as they did 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 UEB It was the Jews who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets. It was the Jews who drove us out. They do not please God. Instead, they are hostile to all people. 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 UEB They forbid us to speak to the Gentiles for them to be saved. The result is that they always fill up their own sins. Wrath must come on them in the 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 UEB We were separated from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart. We were especially eager, with great desire, to see your face. 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 UEB For we wished to come to you—I, Paul, wished to come to you once and again—but Satan stopped us. BSB BSB: For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us.
19 UEB For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of pride in front of our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you just as much as others? 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 UEB 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.