| NET Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, about our coming to you--it has not proven to be purposeless. | 1For you yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a waste of time. |
| 2But although we suffered earlier and were mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of much opposition. | 2As you know, we suffered persecution and were mistreated in Philippi. Yet we were encouraged by our God to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. |
| 3For the appeal we make does not come from error or impurity or with deceit, | 3For our appeal to you does not spring from deceit, impure motives, or trickery. |
| 4but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we declare it, not to please people but God, who examines our hearts. | 4Rather, because we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, we speak as we do, not trying to please people but God, who tests our motives. |
| 5For we never appeared with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed--God is our witness-- | 5As you know, we did not come with flattering words or with a scheme to make money. God is our witness! |
| 6nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others, | 6We did not seek praise from people—from you or from anyone else— |
| 7although we could have imposed our weight as apostles of Christ; instead we became little children among you. Like a nursing mother caring for her own children, | 7even though as apostles of the Messiah we might have made such demands. Instead, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother tenderly caring for her own children. |
| 8with such affection for you we were happy to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. | 8We cared so deeply for you that we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but our very lives. That is how dear you were to us. |
| 9For you recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery: By working night and day so as not to impose a burden on any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. | 9Brothers, you remember our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not become a burden to any of you while we proclaimed the gospel of God to you. |
| 10You are witnesses, and so is God, as to how holy and righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you who believe. | 10You and God are witnesses of how pure, honest, and blameless our conduct was among you who believe. |
| 11As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his own children, | 11You know very well that we treated each of you the way a father treats his children. |
| 12exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you live in a way worthy of God who calls you to his own kingdom and his glory. | 12We comforted and encouraged you, urging you to live in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. |
| 13And so we too constantly thank God that when you received God's message that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human message, but as it truly is, God's message, which is at work among you who believe. | 13Here is another reason why we constantly give thanks to God: When you received God's word, which you heard from us, you did not accept it as the word of humans but for what it really is—the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. |
| 14For you became imitators, brothers and sisters, of God's churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they in fact did from the Jews, | 14For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in union with the Messiah Jesus. You suffered the same persecutions from the people of your own country as they did from those Jews |
| 15who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us severely. They are displeasing to God and are opposed to all people, | 15who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, who have persecuted us, and who please neither God nor any group of people, |
| 16because they hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they constantly fill up their measure of sins, but wrath has come upon them completely. | 16as they try to keep us from telling the gentiles how they can be saved. As a result, they are constantly adding to the number of sins they have committed. However, wrath has overtaken them at last! |
| 17But when we were separated from you, brothers and sisters, for a short time (in presence, not in affection) we became all the more fervent in our great desire to see you in person. | 17Brothers, although we have been separated from you for a little while—in person but not in heart—we eagerly desire to see you again face to face. |
| 18For we wanted to come to you (I, Paul, in fact tried again and again) but Satan thwarted us. | 18That is why we wanted to come to you. Certainly I, Paul, wanted to come time and again, but Satan blocked our way. |
| 19For who is our hope or joy or crown to boast of before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not of course you? | 19After all, who is our hope, joy, or reason for rejoicing in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming? It is you, isn't it? |
| 20For you are our glory and joy! | 20Yes, you are our glory and joy! |
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