For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain.
On the contrary, after having suffered and having been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold because of our trust in God to speak to you the good news of God in spite of much opposition.
For our appeal did not come from error or from impure motives, nor was it made in deceit,
but since we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the good news, therefore we speak it, not to please people, but to please God, who is testing our hearts.
For we never used flattering speech, as you know, nor had greed as a motive (God is our witness),
nor were we seeking glory from people, neither from you nor from others, although we could have made demands as apostles of Christ,
instead, we were like infants when we were among you. We were like a nursing mother tenderly caring for her own children,
having such great affection for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the good news of God but also our own souls, because you had become deeply loved by us.
For you remember, brothers and sisters, our labor and struggles; working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the good news of God.
You are witnesses, and God also, of how purely and righteously and blamelessly we behaved toward you who believe.
As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his own children,
encouraging you and comforting you and urging you so that you walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
And we also constantly thank God for this: that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.
For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus, because you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,
who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and drove us out and do not please God and are hostile to all people
by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they can be saved. As a result, they are continuing to pile up their sins, but the wrath of God has come upon them until the end.
Paul's Longing to See Them Again
But we, brothers and sisters, after being orphaned from you for a period of time (in person, not in heart), were all the more eager to see your face—we greatly desired it.
For we wanted to come to you (even I, Paul, attempted to again and again), but the Adversary prevented us.
For who is our hope or joy or crown of boasting in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?