1 Thessalonians 2:7-12

International Standard Version

⁷ even though as apostles of the Messiah^[a] we might have made such demands. Instead, we were gentle^[b] among you, like a nursing mother tenderly caring for her own children. ⁸ We cared so deeply for you that we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but our very lives. That is how dear you were to us. ⁹ Brothers, you remember our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not become a burden to any of you while we proclaimed the gospel of God to you. ¹⁰ You and God are witnesses of how pure, honest, and blameless our conduct was among you who believe. ¹¹ You know very well that we treated each of you the way a father treats^[c] his children. ¹² We comforted and encouraged you, urging you to live in a manner worthy of God, who calls^[d] you into his kingdom and glory.