Chapter 2

Paul’s Ministry

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

2 but 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.

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

4 abut 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.

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

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

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

8 Having 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.

9 For 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.

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

11 just as you know how we were aexhorting and encouraging and 1bimploring each one of you as ca father would his own children,

12 so that you would awalk in a manner worthy of the God who bcalls you into His own kingdom and cglory.

13 For this reason we also constantly athank God that when you received the bword of God which you heard from us, you accepted it cnot as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, dwhich also performs its work in you who believe.

14 For you, brethren, became aimitators of bthe churches of God in Christ Jesus that are cin Judea, for dyou also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, eeven as they did from the Jews,

15 awho both killed the Lord Jesus and bthe prophets, and 1drove us out. 2They are not pleasing to God, 2but hostile to all men,

16 ahindering us from speaking to the Gentiles bso that they may be saved; with the result that they always cfill up the measure of their sins. But dwrath has come upon them 1to the utmost.

17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a 1short while—ain 2person, not in 3spirit—were all the more eager with great desire bto see your face.

18 1For awe wanted to come to you—I, Paul, 2bmore than once—and yet cSatan dhindered us.

19 For who is our hope or ajoy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His 1bcoming?

20 For you are aour glory and joy.