Paul's Ministry to the Thessalonians

2 For you yourselves know, brothers,^[a] that our ^(A)coming to you ^(B)was not in vain.

^5 (A)For we never came with words of flattery,^[a] as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—^(B)God is witness. ^6 (C)Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, ^(D)though we could have made ^(E)demands as ^(F)apostles of Christ. ⁷ But we were ^(G)gentle^[b] among you, ^(H)like 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 ^(I)but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

⁹ For you remember, brothers, ^(J)our labor and toil: we ^(K)worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. ¹⁰ You are witnesses, and ^(L)God also, ^(M)how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. ¹¹ For you know how, ^(N)like a father with his children, ¹² we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and ^(O)charged ^(P)you to walk in a manner worthy of God, ^(Q)who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.