| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. | 1You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain. |
| 2But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. | 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. |
| 3For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. | 3For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery. |
| 4But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. | 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. |
| 5For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. | 5As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness! |
| 6Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. | 6Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it. |
| 7But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. | 7On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children. |
| 8So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. | 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. |
| 9For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. | 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. |
| 10You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; | 10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed. |
| 11as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, | 11For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children— |
| 12that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. | 12encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. |
| 13For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. | 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. |
| 14For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, | 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, |
| 15who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, | 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, |
| 16forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost. | 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. |
| 17But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. | 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. |
| 18Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. | 18For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us. |
| 19For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? | 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? |
| 20For you are our glory and joy. | 20You are indeed our glory and our joy. |
|
