Study Desk

For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our ^(F1)(C1)reception among you ^(C2)was not in vain,

but after we had already suffered and been ^(C1)treated abusively in ^(C2)Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God ^(C3)to speak to you the ^(C4)gospel of God ^(F1)amid much ^(F2)(C5)opposition.

For our ^(C1)exhortation does not come from ^(C2)error or ^(C3)impurity or ^(F1)by way of ^(C4)deceit;

^(C1)but just as we have been approved by God to be ^(C2)entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, ^(C3)not intending to please people, but to please God, who ^(F1)(C4)examines our hearts.

For we never came ^(F1)with flattering speech, as you know, nor with ^(C1)a pretext ^(F2)for greed—^(C2)God is our witness—

nor did we ^(C1)seek honor from people, either from you or from others, though ^(F1)we could have ^(F2)asserted our authority as ^(C2)apostles of Christ.

But we ^(F1)proved to be ^(F2)(C1)gentle ^(F3)among you. ^(C2)As a nursing mother ^(F4)tenderly cares for her own children,

in the same way we had a fond affection for you and were delighted to ^(C1)share with you not only the ^(C2)gospel of God, but also our own ^(F1)lives, because you had become ^(F2)very dear to us.

For you recall, brothers and sisters, our ^(C1)labor and hardship: it was by ^(C2)working night and day so as not to be a ^(C3)burden to any of you, that we proclaimed to you the ^(C4)gospel of God.

You are witnesses, and so is ^(C1)God, of ^(C2)how devoutly and rightly and blamelessly we ^(F1)behaved toward you ^(F2)believers;

just as you know how we were ^(C1)exhorting and encouraging and ^(C2)imploring each one of you as ^(C3)a father would his own children,

so that you would ^(C1)walk in a manner worthy of the God who ^(C2)calls you into His own kingdom and ^(C3)glory.