1For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain,
1弟兄們，你們自己原曉得我們進到你們那裡並不是徒然的。
2but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.
2我們從前在腓立比被害受辱，這是你們知道的；然而還是靠我們的神放開膽量，在大爭戰中把神的福音傳給你們。
3For our exhortation does not [come] from error or impurity or by way of deceit;
3我們的勸勉不是出於錯誤，不是出於污穢，也不是用詭詐。
4but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.
4但神既然驗中了我們，把福音託付我們，我們就照樣講，不是要討人喜歡，乃是要討那察驗我們心的神喜歡。
5For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed-- God is witness--
5因為我們從來沒有用過諂媚的話，這是你們知道的；也沒有藏著貪心，這是神可以作見證的。
6nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.
6我們作基督的使徒，雖然可以叫人尊重，卻沒有向你們或向別人求榮耀；
7But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing [mother] tenderly cares for her own children.
7只在你們中間存心溫柔，如同母親乳養自己的孩子。
8Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.
8我們既是這樣愛你們，不但願意將神的福音給你們，連自己的性命也願意給你們，因你們是我們所疼愛的。
9For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, [how] working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
9弟兄們，你們記念我們的辛苦勞碌，晝夜做工，傳神的福音給你們，免得叫你們一人受累。
10You are witnesses, and [so is] God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers;
10我們向你們信主的人，是何等聖潔、公義、無可指摘，有你們作見證，也有神作見證。
11just as you know how we [were] exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father [would] his own children,
11你們也曉得我們怎樣勸勉你們，安慰你們，囑咐你們各人，好像父親待自己的兒女一樣，
12so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
12要叫你們行事對得起那召你們進他國、得他榮耀的神。
13For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted [it] not [as] the word of men, but [for] what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.
13為此，我們也不住的感謝神，因你們聽見我們所傳神的道就領受了；不以為是人的道，乃以為是神的道。這道實在是神的，並且運行在你們信主的人心中。
14For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they [did] from the Jews,
14弟兄們，你們曾效法猶太中在基督耶穌裡神的各教會；因為你們也受了本地人的苦害，像他們受了猶太人的苦害一樣。
15who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men,
15這猶太人殺了主耶穌和先知，又把我們趕出去。他們不得神的喜悅，且與眾人為敵；
16hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost.
16不許我們傳道給外邦人使外邦人得救，常常充滿自己的罪惡。神的忿怒臨在他們身上已經到了極處。
17But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short while-- in person, not in spirit-- were all the more eager with great desire to see your face.
17弟兄們，我們暫時與你們離別，是面目離別，心裡卻不離別；我們極力的想法子，很願意見你們的面。
18For we wanted to come to you-- I, Paul, more than once-- and [yet] Satan hindered us.
18所以我們有意到你們那裡；我保羅有一兩次要去，只是撒但阻擋了我們。
19For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?
19我們的盼望和喜樂，並所誇的冠冕是甚麼呢？豈不是我們主耶穌來的時候，你們在他面前站立得住麼？
20For you are our glory and joy.
20因為你們就是我們的榮耀，我們的喜樂。