August 27, 2013, Reading

First Thessalonians 2:1-8

¹ You know yourselves, my brothers, that our visit to you has not been pointless.

² Although, as you know, we had received rough treatment and insults at Philippi, God gave us the courage to speak his gospel to you fearlessly, in spite of great opposition.

³ Our encouragement to you does not come from any delusion or impure motives or trickery.

⁴ No, God has approved us to be entrusted with the gospel, and this is how we preach, seeking to please not human beings but God who tests our hearts.

⁵ Indeed, we have never acted with the thought of flattering anyone, as you know, nor as an excuse for greed, God is our witness;

⁶ nor have we ever looked for honour from human beings, either from you or anybody else,

⁷ when we could have imposed ourselves on you with full weight, as apostles of Christ. Instead, we lived unassumingly among you. Like a mother feeding and looking after her children,

⁸ we felt so devoted to you, that we would have been happy to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, so dear had you become.