Common English Bible CEB
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 As you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, our visit with you wasn't a waste of time.
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For you yourselves know, brethren, that our visit to you was not in vain;
2 On the contrary, we had the courage through God to speak God's good news in spite of a lot of opposition, although we had already suffered and were publicly insulted, as you know.
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but though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philip'pi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the face of great opposition.
3 Our appeal isn't based on false information, the wrong motives, or deception.
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For our appeal does not spring from error or uncleanness, nor is it made with guile;
4 Rather, we have been examined and approved by God to be trusted with the good news, and that's exactly how we speak. We aren't trying to please people, but we are trying to please God, who continues to examine our hearts.
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but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please men, but to please God who tests our hearts.
5 As you know, we never used flattery, and God is our witness that we didn't have greedy motives.
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For we never used either words of flattery, as you know, or a cloak for greed, as God is witness;
6 We didn't ask for special treatment from people—not from you or from others—
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nor did we seek glory from men, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.
7 although we could have thrown our weight around as Christ's apostles. Instead, we were gentle with you like a nursing mother caring for her own children.
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But we were gentle among you, like a nurse taking care of her children.
8 We were glad to share not only God's good news with you but also our very lives because we cared for you so much.
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So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
9 You remember, brothers and sisters, our efforts and hard work. We preached God's good news to you, while we worked night and day so we wouldn't be a burden on any of you.
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For you remember our labor and toil, brethren; we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you, while we preached to you the gospel of God.
10 You and God are witnesses of how holy, just, and blameless we were toward you believers.
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You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our behavior to you believers;
11 Likewise, you know how we treated each of you like a father treats his own children.
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for you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you
12 We appealed to you, encouraged you, and pleaded with you to live lives worthy of the God who is calling you into his own kingdom and glory.
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to lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
13 We also thank God constantly for this: when you accepted God's word that you heard from us, you welcomed it for what it truly is. Instead of accepting it as a human message, you accepted it as God's message, and it continues to work in you who are believers.
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And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
14 Brothers and sisters, you became imitators of the churches of God in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus. This was because you also suffered the same things from your own people as they did from the Jews.
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For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus which are in Judea; for you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,
15 They killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and drove us out. They don't please God, and they are hostile to the entire human race
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who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all men
16 when they try to stop us from speaking to the Gentiles so they can be saved. Their sins are constantly pushing the limit. God's wrath has caught up with them in the end.
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by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they may be saved--so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But God's wrath has come upon them at last!
17 Brothers and sisters, we were separated from you for a while physically but not in our hearts. We made every effort in our desire to see you again face-to-face.
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But since we were bereft of you, brethren, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face;
18 We wanted to come to you—I, Paul, tried over and over again—and Satan stopped us.
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because we wanted to come to you--I, Paul, again and again--but Satan hindered us.
19 What is our hope, joy, or crown that we can brag about in front of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Isn't it all of you?
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For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?
20 You are our glory and joy!
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For you are our glory and joy.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.