2:1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our visit to you was not in vain;
2:1 You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain,

2:2 but though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philip'pi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the face of great opposition.
2:2 but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition.

2:3 For our appeal does not spring from error or uncleanness, nor is it made with guile;
2:3 For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery,

2:4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please men, but to please God who tests our hearts.
2:4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts.

2:5 For we never used either words of flattery, as you know, or a cloak for greed, as God is witness;
2:5 As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed;

2:6 nor did we seek glory from men, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.
2:6 nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others,

2:7 But we were gentle among you, like a nurse taking care of her children.
2:7 though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children.

2:8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
2:8 So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.

2:9 For you remember our labor and toil, brethren; we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you, while we preached to you the gospel of God.
2:9 You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

2:10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our behavior to you believers;
2:10 You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers.

2:11 for you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you
2:11 As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children,

2:12 to lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
2:12 urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

2:13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
2:13 We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God's word, which is also at work in you believers.

2:14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus which are in Judea; for you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,
2:14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you suffered the same things from your own compatriots as they did from the Jews,

2:15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all men
2:15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out; they displease God and oppose everyone

2:16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they may be saved -- so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But God's wrath has come upon them at last!
2:16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they have constantly been filling up the measure of their sins; but God's wrath has overtaken them at last.

2:17 But since we were bereft of you, brethren, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face;
2:17 As for us, brothers and sisters, when, for a short time, we were made orphans by being separated from you--in person, not in heart--we longed with great eagerness to see you face to face.

2:18 because we wanted to come to you -- I, Paul, again and again -- but Satan hindered us.
2:18 For we wanted to come to you--certainly I, Paul, wanted to again and again--but Satan blocked our way.

2:19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?
2:19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?

2:20 For you are our glory and joy.
2:20 Yes, you are our glory and joy!