Common English Bible CEB
New Revised Standard NRS
1 As you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, our visit with you wasn't a waste of time.
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You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain,
2 On the contrary, we had the courage through God to speak God's good news in spite of a lot of opposition, although we had already suffered and were publicly insulted, as you know.
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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.
3 Our appeal isn't based on false information, the wrong motives, or deception.
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For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery,
4 Rather, we have been examined and approved by God to be trusted with the good news, and that's exactly how we speak. We aren't trying to please people, but we are trying to please God, who continues to examine our hearts.
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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.
5 As you know, we never used flattery, and God is our witness that we didn't have greedy motives.
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As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed;
6 We didn't ask for special treatment from people—not from you or from others—
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nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others,
7 although we could have thrown our weight around as Christ's apostles. Instead, we were gentle with you like a nursing mother caring for her own children.
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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.
8 We were glad to share not only God's good news with you but also our very lives because we cared for you so much.
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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.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.