33 (A)I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. 34 You yourselves know that (B)these hands ministered to my own needs and to the (C)men who were with me. 35 In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

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33 `The silver or gold or garments of no one did I covet;

34 and ye yourselves know that to my necessities, and to those who were with me, minister did these hands;

35 all things I did shew you, that, thus labouring, it behoveth [us] to partake with the ailing, to be mindful also of the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.'

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Paul’s Ministry

For you yourselves know, brethren, that our [a](A)coming to you (B)was not in vain, but after we had already suffered and been (C)mistreated in (D)Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God (E)to speak to you the (F)gospel of God amid much [b](G)opposition. For our (H)exhortation does not come from (I)error or (J)impurity or [c]by way of (K)deceit; (L)but just as we have been approved by God to be (M)entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, (N)not as pleasing men, but God who [d](O)examines our hearts. For we never came [e]with flattering speech, as you know, nor with (P)a pretext for greed—(Q)God is witness— nor did we (R)seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as (S)apostles of Christ [f]we might have [g]asserted our authority. But we [h]proved to be [i](T)gentle [j]among you, (U)as a nursing mother [k]tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to (V)impart to you not only the (W)gospel of God but also our own [l]lives, because you had become [m]very dear to us.

For you recall, brethren, our (X)labor and hardship, how (Y)working night and day so as not to be a (Z)burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the (AA)gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and so is (AB)God, (AC)how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we [n]behaved toward you [o]believers; 11 just as you know how we were (AD)exhorting and encouraging and [p](AE)imploring each one of you as (AF)a father would his own children, 12 so that you would (AG)walk in a manner worthy of the God who (AH)calls you into His own kingdom and (AI)glory.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 2:1 Lit entrance
  2. 1 Thessalonians 2:2 Or struggle, conflict
  3. 1 Thessalonians 2:3 Lit in deceit
  4. 1 Thessalonians 2:4 Or approves
  5. 1 Thessalonians 2:5 Lit in a word of flattery
  6. 1 Thessalonians 2:6 Lit being able to
  7. 1 Thessalonians 2:6 Or be burdensome
  8. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Or became gentle
  9. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Three early mss read babes
  10. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Lit in the midst of you
  11. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Or cherishes
  12. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 Or souls
  13. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 Lit beloved
  14. 1 Thessalonians 2:10 Lit became
  15. 1 Thessalonians 2:10 Or who believe
  16. 1 Thessalonians 2:11 Or testifying to

For yourselves have known, brethren, our entrance in unto you, that it did not become vain,

but having both suffered before, and having been injuriously treated (as ye have known) in Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the good news of God in much conflict,

for our exhortation [is] not out of deceit, nor out of uncleanness, nor in guile,

but as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the good news, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who is proving our hearts,

for at no time did we come with speech of flattery, (as ye have known,) nor in a pretext for covetousness, (God [is] witness!)

nor seeking of men glory, neither from you nor from others, being able to be burdensome, as Christ's apostles.

But we became gentle in your midst, as a nurse may cherish her own children,

so being desirous of you, we are well-pleased to impart to you not only the good news of God, but also our own souls, because beloved ye have become to us,

for ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail, for, night and day working not to be a burden upon any of you, we did preach to you the good news of God;

10 ye [are] witnesses -- God also -- how kindly and righteously, and blamelessly to you who believe we became,

11 even as ye have known, how each one of you, as a father his own children, we are exhorting you, and comforting, and testifying,

12 for your walking worthily of God, who is calling you to His own reign and glory.

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I robbed other churches by (A)taking wages from them to serve you;

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other assemblies I did rob, having taken wages, for your ministration;

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