Paul's Ministry

1For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you has not been in vain. 2But having previously suffered and having been mistreated in Philippi, just as you know, we had boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much conflict.

3For our exhortation was not of error, nor of impurity, nor in trickery; 4but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, the One examining our hearts. 5For never at any time were we with word of flattery, just as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness— 6nor seeking glory from men, nor from you, nor from others, though having authority with weight to be, as apostles of Christ.

7But we were gentle in your midst, as a nursing mother would cherish her own children. 8So yearning over you, we were pleased to have imparted to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you have become beloved to us.

9For you remember, brothers, our labor and hardship: Working night and day in order not to burden any one of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10You are witnesses, and God, how holily and righteously and blamelessly we behaved toward you, those believing, 11just as you know how each one of you, as a father his own children, 12we were exhorting and comforting you and charging unto you to walk worthily of God, who calls you into His kingdom and glory.

13And because of this, we also give thanks to God unceasingly that, having received the word of God by your hearing from us, you accepted not the word of men, but even as truly it is, the word of God, which also works in you who believe.

14For you became imitators, brothers, of the churches of God in Judea being in Christ Jesus. For the same as them, you also suffered from the own countrymen as they also did from the Jews, 15who having killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and having driven us out, and not pleasing God, are also set against all men, 16forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, so as always to fill up their sins. Now the wrath has come upon them to the utmost.

Paul's Longing to Visit
(Romans 1:8-15)

17But we, having been bereaved of you, brothers, for the time of an hour—in face, not in heart—were more abundantly eager with great desire to see your face. 18Therefore we wanted to come to you—indeed I Paul, both once and twice—and Satan hindered us. 19For who is our hope or joy or crown of boasting? Or are not even you, before our Lord Jesus at His coming? 20For you are our glory and joy.