Paul’s Ministry 1 WBS For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance to you, that it was not in vain: BSB BSB: You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain.
2 WBS But even after we had suffered before, and were shamefully treated, as ye know, at Phillippi, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God with much contention. 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 WBS For our exhortation was not from deceit, nor from impurity, nor in guile; BSB BSB: For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.
4 WBS But as we were allowed by God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who trieth 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 WBS For neither at any time used we flattering words, 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 WBS Nor from men sought we glory, neither from you, nor yet from others, when we might have been burdensome, as the 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 WBS But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: BSB BSB: On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.
8 WBS So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted to you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were 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 WBS For ye remember, brethren, our labor and toil: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable to any of you, 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 WBS Ye are witnesses, and God also , how holily, and justly, and unblamably we behaved ourselves among 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 WBS As ye know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, BSB BSB: For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children—
12 WBS That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath 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 WBS For this cause also we thank God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard from us, ye received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which effectually worketh also 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 WBS For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things from your own countrymen, even as they have 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 WBS Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they 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 WBS Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, to fill up their sins always: for 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 WBS But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored the more abundantly 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 WBS Wherefore we would have come to you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. BSB BSB: For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us.
19 WBS For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ 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 WBS For ye are our glory and joy. BSB BSB: You are indeed our glory and our joy.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.