1 Thessalonians 2:1–10

Paul’s Ministry

¹For you yourselves know, brethren, that our ^1acoming to you ^bwas not in vain,

²but after we had already suffered and been ^amistreated in ^bPhilippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God ^cto speak to you the ^dgospel of God amid much ^1eopposition.

³For our ^aexhortation does not come from ^berror or ^cimpurity or ¹by way of ^ddeceit;

^4abut just as we have been approved by God to be ^bentrusted with the gospel, so we speak, ^cnot as pleasing men, but God who ^1dexamines our hearts.

⁵For we never came ¹with flattering speech, as you know, nor with ^aa pretext for greed—^bGod is witness—

⁶nor did we ^aseek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as ^bapostles of Christ ¹we might have ²asserted our authority.

⁷But we ¹proved to be ^2agentle ³among you, ^bas a nursing mother ⁴tenderly cares for her own children.

⁸Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to ^aimpart to you not only the ^bgospel of God but also our own ¹lives, because you had become ²very dear to us.

⁹For you recall, brethren, our ^alabor and hardship, how ^bworking night and day so as not to be a ^cburden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the ^dgospel of God.

¹⁰You are witnesses, and so is ^aGod, ^bhow devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we ¹behaved toward you ²believers;