1 Thessalonians 2:1–10

Paul’s Ministry to the Thessalonians

2For you yourselves know, brothers,¹ that our ^fcoming to you ^gwas not in vain. ²But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated ^hat Philippi, as you know, ⁱwe had boldness in our God ^jto declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much ^kconflict. ³For ^lour appeal does not spring from ^merror or ⁿimpurity or ^oany attempt to deceive, ⁴but just as we have been approved by God ^pto be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not ^qto please man, but to please God ^rwho tests our hearts. ^5sFor we never came with words of flattery,² as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—^tGod is witness. ^6uNor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, ^vthough we could have made ^wdemands as ^xapostles of Christ. ⁷But we were ^ygentle³ among you, ^zlike a nursing mother taking care of her own children. ⁸So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God ^abut also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

⁹For you remember, brothers, ^bour labor and toil: we ^cworked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. ¹⁰You are witnesses, and ^dGod also, ^ehow holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.