7 But we were ^ygentle¹ 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.

11 For you know how, ^flike a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and ^gcharged ^hyou to walk in a manner worthy of God, ⁱwho calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

13 And ^jwe also thank God constantly¹ for this, that when you received ^kthe word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it ^lnot as the word of men² but as what it really is, the word of God, ^mwhich is at work in you believers.