1 Thessalonians 2:1–10

PAUL’S CONDUCT

2For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our visit^z with you was not without result. ²On the contrary, after we had previously suffered^aa and were treated outrageously in Philippi,^ab as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition. ³For our exhortation didn’t come from error or impurity^ac or an intent to deceive.^{ad 4}Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted^ae with the gospel,^af so we speak, not to please people, but rather God,^ag who examines our hearts.^{ah 5}For we never used flattering speech, as you know, or had greedy^ai motives^aj—God is our witness^ak—⁶and we didn’t seek glory^al from people, either from you or from others. ⁷Although we could have been a burden as Christ’s apostles,^am instead we were gentle^E among you, as a nurse^F nurtures her own children. ⁸We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. ⁹For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers and sisters. Working^an night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God’s gospel to you. ¹⁰You are witnesses,^ao and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously,^ap and blamelessly^aq we conducted ourselves with you believers.