We were not looking for praise from people,(A) not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles(B) of Christ we could have asserted our authority.(C) Instead, we were like young children[a] among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,(D) so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God(E) but our lives as well.(F) Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked(G) night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone(H) while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses,(I) and so is God,(J) of how holy,(K) righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,(L) 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy(M) of God, who calls(N) you into his kingdom and glory.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Some manuscripts were gentle

Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

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