Paul’s Ministry 1 UST Fellow believers, you surely remember that when we visited you, it was very productive. BSB BSB: You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain.
2 UST As you remember, when we were in the city of Philippi, people hurt us and abused us. However, our God made us confident when we told you the good news from God, despite how hard it was{ to do}. 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 UST { When} we encouraged{ you to believe the good news, we did} not convince you to believe an incorrect message.{ We did} not say or do unclean things.{ We did} not deceive you. BSB BSB: For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.
4 UST Rather, we speak as people whom God has tested and approved to proclaim the good news. We are not{ trying} to please people. Instead,{ we are trying to please} God. He is the one who tests what we think and desire. 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 UST In fact, when we visited you, we did not flatter you or pretend not to want money. You remember{ that this is true}, and God testifies{ that it is true}. BSB BSB: As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!
6 UST { We did} not desire that people would honor us.{ We did not desire this} from you or from anyone else. 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 UST Since the Messiah sent us to represent him, we could have required you to obey us and give us whatever we wanted. However, when we were with you, we acted as gentle as babies.{ We were} like mothers who lovingly take care of their children. BSB BSB: On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.
8 UST Since we care for you in those ways, we delighted to share the good news from God with you. Even more,{ we delighted to share} our own lives{ with you}.{ That is} because we started to love you{ very much}. 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 UST Fellow believers,{ I know that} you recall how hard we labored. We worked all day long so that we would not have to bother any of you{ by asking for money}.{ That was how we acted when} we told you the good news from 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 UST Both you and God can testify that we did what was good and right{ when we were} with you who trust{ in God}. BSB BSB: You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.
11 UST You remember that{ we behaved} toward every one of you as a father{ behaves toward} his own children. BSB BSB: For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children—
12 UST { That means that we} were teaching you and urging you so that you would live the way that God wants{ his people to live}. He is the one who invites you to participate in his kingdom and in how great he is. 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 UST Further, we consistently thank God that you accepted what you heard about God in our message. You did not consider it to be a merely human message. Rather,{ you considered it to be} a message from God, which is what it really is. This message is changing you who trust{ in God}. 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 UST Now{ unbelieving} Jews not only killed the prophets{ long ago}, but they also{ recently} killed the Lord Jesus and forced us to leave{ your city}. These unbelieving Jews also persecuted the believers{ who live in the region of Judea}. In fact, fellow believers, you have become like these groups of believers in Judea whom God has united to Jesus the Messiah.{ That is} because people from your own country persecute you, just as{ the unbelieving Jews persecuted the believers in Judea}. These{ unbelieving} Jews do not please God, and they act against most people. 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,
16 UST They try to stop us from telling{ the good news} to non- Jews,{ which we do} so that God saves non- Jews. So,{ these unbelieving Jews} consistently continue to sin. However, God will completely punish them! 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 UST In contrast, fellow believers, we very eagerly desired to be with you in person, even though we had to leave you for a little while. Although we were physically absent, we always thought and cared about you. 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 UST Indeed, we wanted to visit you. Specifically, I myself, Paul,{ tried to visit} several times. However,{ each time,} Satan stopped us{ from visiting}. BSB BSB: For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us.
19 UST { We wanted to visit you} because it is you who enable us to hope and to rejoice and to say great things about you, who honor us.{ We know that this will be true} when our Lord Jesus examines everyone after he returns to this world. 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 UST Indeed, you honor us and make us rejoice! BSB BSB: You are indeed our glory and our joy.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.