Study Desk

For you yourselves know, brethren, that our ^[a](a)coming to you ^(b)was not in vain,

but after we had already suffered and been ^(c)mistreated in ^(d)Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God ^(e)to speak to you the ^(f)gospel of God amid much ^[b](g)opposition.

For our ^(h)exhortation does not come from ⁽ⁱ⁾error or ^(j)impurity or ^[c]by way of ^(k)deceit;

^(l)but just as we have been approved by God to be ^(m)entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, ⁽ⁿ⁾not as pleasing men, but God who ^[d](o)examines our hearts.

For we never came ^[e]with flattering speech, as you know, nor with ^(p)a pretext for greed—^(q)God is witness—

nor did we ^(r)seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as ^(s)apostles of Christ ^[f]we might have ^[g]asserted our authority.

But we ^[h]proved to be ^[i](t)gentle ^[j]among you, ^(u)as a nursing mother ^[k]tenderly cares for her own children.

Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to ^(v)impart to you not only the ^(w)gospel of God but also our own ^[l]lives, because you had become ^[m]very dear to us.

For you recall, brethren, our ^(x)labor and hardship, how ^(y)working night and day so as not to be a ^(z)burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the ^(aa)gospel of God.

You are witnesses, and so is ^(ab)God, ^(ac)how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we ^[n]behaved toward you ^[o]believers;

just as you know how we were ^(ad)exhorting and encouraging and ^[p](ae)imploring each one of you as ^(af)a father would his own children,

so that you would ^(ag)walk in a manner worthy of the God who ^(ah)calls you into His own kingdom and ^(ai)glory.