1 Thessalonians 2

¹For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you has not proved empty;

²but having previously suffered and been shamefully mistreated, as you know, in Philippi, we spoke boldly in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much conflict.

³For our appeal is not from error, nor from impurity, nor in deceit;

⁴but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who is examining our hearts.

⁵For neither at any time did we appear with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed — God is witness —

⁶nor seeking glory from men, neither from you nor from others,

⁷but we were as little children in your midst, as when a nursing mother cherishes her own children,

⁸So, yearning for you, we were pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

⁹For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil; working night and day so as not to burden any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

¹⁰You are witnesses, and God, how devoutly and righteously and blamelessly we conducted ourselves toward you who believe,

¹¹just as you know how we dealt with each one of you as a father with his own children,

¹²so that you would walk worthily of God, who is calling you into his own kingdom and glory.

¹³And for this reason we also give thanks to God unceasingly, that having received the word of hearing from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but, just as it truly is, the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe.

¹⁴For you yourselves, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus, because you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they also did from the Jews,

¹⁵who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and who do not please God, and are opposed to all people,

¹⁷But we, brothers, having been bereaved of you for the season of an hour — in presence, not in heart — were all the more exceedingly eager to see your face with great longing.

¹⁸because we wanted to come to you -- I, Paul, indeed, both once and twice -- and Satan hindered us.

¹⁹For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of boasting? Is it not even you, before our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

²⁰For you are our glory and joy.