Paul’s Ministry to the Thessalonians

1 For you yourselves know, brothers,¹ that our ^fcoming to you ^gwas not in vain.

2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated ^hat Philippi, as you know, ⁱwe had boldness in our God ^jto declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much ^kconflict. 3 For ^lour appeal does not spring from ^merror or ⁿimpurity or ^oany attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God ^pto be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not ^qto please man, but to please God ^rwho tests our hearts. 5 ^sFor we never came with words of flattery,¹ as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—^tGod is witness. 6 ^uNor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, ^vthough we could have made ^wdemands as ^xapostles of Christ. 7 But we were ^ygentle² among you, ^zlike a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God ^abut also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.