Paul’s Ministry 1 RV For yourselves, brethren, know our entering in unto you, that it hath not been found vain: BSB BSB: You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain.
2 RV but having suffered before, and been shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we waxed bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God in much conflict. 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 RV For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: BSB BSB: For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.
4 RV but even as we have been approved of God to be intrusted with the gospel, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God which proveth 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 RV For neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness, God is witness; BSB BSB: As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!
6 RV nor seeking glory of men, neither from you, nor from others, when we might have been burdensome, 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 RV But we were gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherisheth her own children: BSB BSB: On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.
8 RV even so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were well pleased to impart unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were 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 RV For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached unto 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 RV Ye are witnesses, and God also , how holily and righteously and unblameably we behaved ourselves toward you that believe: BSB BSB: You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.
11 RV as ye know how we dealt with each one of you, as a father with his own children, exhorting you, and encouraging you , and testifying, BSB BSB: For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children—
12 RV to the end that ye should walk worthily of God, who calleth 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 RV And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, even the word of God, ye accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that 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 RV For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judaea in Christ Jesus: for ye also suffered the same things of your own countrymen, even as they did of 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 RV who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drave out us, and please not God, and are contrary 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 RV forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins alway: but the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. 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 RV But we, brethren, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more exceedingly to see your face with 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 RV because we would fain have come unto you, I Paul once and again; and Satan hindered us. BSB BSB: For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us.
19 RV For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even ye, before our Lord Jesus at his coming? 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 RV For ye are our glory and our joy. BSB BSB: You are indeed our glory and our joy.
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