1 For you yourselves know, brothers {adelphoi: fellow believers}, our entrance {eisodos: ministry visit} to you, that it has not been empty.
2 But after we had previously suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, just as you know, we had boldness in our God {Theos, Source of Courage} to speak to you the gospel {euangelion: good news message} of God in great conflict.
3 For our exhortation {paraklesis: earnest appeal} is not from error nor from impurity {akatharsia: moral defilement} nor in deceit.
4 But just as we have been approved by God {theos, Faithful Approver} to be entrusted with the gospel {euangelion: royal good news}, so we speak, not as pleasing people, but as pleasing God who examines our hearts.
5 For neither at any time did we come with a word of flattery {kolakeia: manipulative praise}, as you yourselves know, nor with a pretext for covetousness—God {Theos, All-Seeing Witness} is our witness.
6 Nor seeking glory {doxan: public honor} from people, neither from you, nor from others, though we were able to be burdensome as apostles of Christ {Christos, Commissioning Lord}.
7 Instead we became gentle {ēpioi: considerate} among you, like a nursing mother {trophos: nurturing caregiver} cherishing her own children.
8 In this way, longing for you, we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God {Theos, Origin Of Good News} but also our own souls {psuche: inner self}, because you became beloved to us.
9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil {mochthon: strenuous hardship}; working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God {Theos, Faithful Sender}.
10 You are witnesses {martyres: those who testify}, and God {Theos, Witness of Conduct} also, how we became holy, righteous, and blameless toward you who believe.
11 Just as you know, we treated each one {hekastos: every individual} of you as a father treats his own children {tekna: dependent offspring}.
12 We exhorted you and encouraged and testified, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of God {Theos, Faithful Caller}, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory {doxa: divine splendor}.
13 And for this reason also we give thanks to God {Theos, Source of Message} without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but just as it truly is—the word of God—which also is at work in you who believe {pisteuousin: keep trusting}.
14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God {Theos, Church Sustainer} that are in Judea in Christ Jesus {Christos Iesous, Shared Suffering Lord}, because you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they themselves did from the Jews.
15 Of those who both killed the Lord Jesus {Kyrios Iesous, Rejected Messiah} and the prophets {prophetas: inspired messengers}, and persecuted us {hemas: targeted believers}, and do not please God {Theos, Displeased Judge}, and are hostile to all people.
16 Hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles {ethne: non-Jewish nations} so that they might be saved, for the purpose of always filling up their sins; but the wrath {orge: divine retribution} has come upon them to the uttermost.
17 But we, brothers, having been made orphans {aporphanisthentes: painfully separated} from you for a short time {kairon: brief season} in person, not in heart, were all the more eager to see your face with much desire.
18 Because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul {Paulos: missionary apostle}, both once and twice—but Satan hindered {enekopsen: cut off access} us.
19 For who is our hope or joy or crown of boasting? Is it not indeed you before our Lord Jesus {Kyrios Iesous, Returning Messiah} at His coming {parousia: royal arrival}?
20 For you are our glory {doxa: honored reputation} and joy {chara: reason for rejoicing}.