Paul’s Ministry
You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain. 2Th 3:11Co 15:21Co 15:581Th 2:13Hab 2:13Php 2:161Co 15:101Th 1:3-10 As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God. Act 16:22-24Act 4:132Ti 1:12Act 17:2-91Pe 2:14-16Act 16:37Heb 12:2-31Th 1:5
For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery. 2Co 2:172Co 4:21Th 4:71Th 2:5-62Co 12:16-182Co 7:21Sa 12:32Co 4:5 Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts. Gal 1:10Rom 8:27Gal 2:72Ti 1:14Psa 17:32Co 4:2Eph 6:61Ch 29:17 As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness! Rom 1:92Co 12:17Act 20:33Gal 1:202Pe 2:31Pe 5:21Th 2:102Co 7:2 Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it. 1 Gal 1:10Jhn 5:44Jhn 5:411Th 2:9Phm 1:8-92Co 10:1-22Co 13:10Gal 5:26
On the contrary, we were gentle among you, 2 like a nursing mother caring for her children. Isa 66:132Ti 2:24-251Th 2:11Isa 49:232Co 10:1Gal 5:22-23Jas 3:171Co 9:22 We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us. 1Jn 3:162Co 12:15Php 2:17Rom 1:11-122Co 6:1Gal 4:19Heb 13:17Php 4:1
Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 2Th 3:7-92Co 11:9Act 18:32Co 12:13-141Co 9:151Co 9:181Co 9:6-71Th 2:6 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed. 1Pe 5:31Th 1:52Co 1:12Tit 2:7-82Ti 3:10Act 20:181Sa 12:3-51Th 2:5 For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children— 1Co 4:14-15Heb 13:221Ti 5:212Th 3:122Ti 4:1-21Ch 28:201Th 2:71Th 5:11 encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. 1Jn 2:6Eph 4:11Jn 1:6-72Th 2:13-141Th 4:121Pe 5:101Th 5:242Th 1:11-12
And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as the true word of God—the word which is now at work in you who believe. Heb 4:12Rom 10:171Pe 1:231Pe 1:251Pe 2:2Luk 11:28Act 13:481Jn 3:3
For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus. You suffered from your own countrymen the very things they suffered from the Jews, 1Th 3:4Heb 10:33-34Heb 5:7-82Th 1:42Co 8:1-2Gal 1:221Co 7:171Th 1:6 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men, Mat 5:12Act 7:52Luk 11:48-53Act 2:23Luk 13:33-34Act 3:15Luk 24:20Mat 23:31-35 hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they may be saved. As a result, they continue to heap up their sins to full capacity; the utmost wrath has come upon them. 3 Act 17:13Act 14:19Act 14:5Mal 4:1Mat 23:32Mrk 16:162Th 2:10Act 13:50
Paul’s Longing to Visit
Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense. Col 2:51Co 5:31Th 3:61Th 3:10-11Rom 1:132Sa 13:39Luk 22:15Psa 63:1 For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us. Rom 15:22Rom 1:13Rev 2:10Zec 3:1-22Co 11:12-14Job 33:14Mat 4:10Rev 12:9-12 After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Php 4:11Th 3:131Th 5:23Php 2:162Co 1:141Co 15:23Mat 16:271Jn 2:28 You are indeed our glory and our joy. 2Co 1:141Co 11:7Pro 17:6