- You yourselves know , brothers , that our - visit - to you was not in vain.
As you are aware , we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition , we were bold in our - God to speak to you the gospel - of God.
For our - appeal does not arise from deceit (or) - ulterior motives (or) - trickery.
Instead , - we speak as those approved by - God to be entrusted with the gospel , not in order to please men but God , who examines our - hearts.
vvv As you know , vvv vvv we never used ... words of flattery (or) - (any) pretext for greed. God (is) (our) witness !
Nor did we seek - - praise - from you (or) from anyone else , (although) as apostles of Christ we had authority vvv to demand (it) ....
On the contrary , we were gentle among you - , like a nursing mother vvv caring for her - children.
vvv We cared so deeply - (that) we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel - of God , but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.
Surely you recall ... , brothers , our - labor and - toil. We worked night and day so that vvv vvv we would not be a burden to anyone - while we proclaimed to you the gospel - of God.
You (are) witnesses , and (so is) - God , of how holy , - righteous , and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.
For you know that (we treated) each - of you as a father (treats) his own children —
encouraging (you) , - comforting you , and urging - you - to walk in a manner worthy - of God , who calls you into His own - kingdom and glory.
And ... we continually thank - God - because - , when you received (the) word - of God that you heard from us , you accepted (it) not (as the) word of men , but as (the) true - word of God — ( the word ) which is (now) at work in you who believe.
For you , brothers , became imitators of the churches - of God in - Jude -a that are in Christ Jesus. - You - suffered from (your) own countrymen the very things - - they (suffered) from the Jews ,
who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets , and drove us out {as well} .... - vvv They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men ,
hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they may be saved. As a result , {they} continue - to heap up their - sins {to full capacity} ; - the utmost - wrath has come upon them.
Brothers , although we were torn away from you for a short time ... (in person , not in heart) , (our) - desire to see you - face (to face) vvv was even more intense.
For we wanted to come to you — indeed I , Paul , (tried) again and again — but - Satan obstructed us.
After all , who (is) our hope , (our) joy , (our) crown of boasting , if it is not - you yourselves in the presence of our - Lord Jesus at His - coming ?