| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain. | 1You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. |
| 2As 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. | 2We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. |
| 3For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery. | 3For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. |
| 4Instead, 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. | 4On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. |
| 5As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness! | 5You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed--God is our witness. |
| 6Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it. | 6We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. |
| 7On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children. | 7Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, |
| 8We 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. | 8so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. |
| 9Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. | 9Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. |
| 10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed. | 10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. |
| 11For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children— | 11For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, |
| 12encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. | 12encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. |
| 13And 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. | 13And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. |
| 14For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus. You suffered from your own countrymen the very things they suffered from the Jews, | 14For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God's churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews |
| 15who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men, | 15who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone |
| 16hindering 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. | 16in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last. |
| 17Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense. | 17But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. |
| 18For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us. | 18For we wanted to come to you--certainly I, Paul, did, again and again--but Satan blocked our way. |
| 19After 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? | 19For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? |
| 20You are indeed our glory and our joy. | 20Indeed, you are our glory and joy. |
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