⁶ We were not looking for praise from people,^(A) not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles^(B) of Christ we could have asserted our authority.^{(C) 7} Instead, we were like young children^[a] among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,^{(D) 8} so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God^(E) but our lives as well.^{(F) 9} Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked^(G) night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone^(H) while we preached the gospel of God to you. ¹⁰ You are witnesses,^(I) and so is God,^(J) of how holy,^(K) righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. ¹¹ For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,^{(L) 12} encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy^(M) of God, who calls^(N) you into his kingdom and glory.