For in fact when we were with you, we were telling you in advance that we would suffer affliction, and so it has happened, as you well know. ¹ 

So ¹  in all our distress and affliction, we were reassured about you, brothers and sisters, ²  through your faith.

with such affection for you ¹  we were happy ²  to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

But when we were separated from you, brothers and sisters, ¹  for a short time (in presence, not in affection) ²  we became all the more fervent in our great desire ³  to see you in person. ⁴ 

But although we suffered earlier and were mistreated in Philippi, ¹  as you know, we had the courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God ²  in spite of much opposition.

¹  although we could have imposed our weight as apostles of Christ; instead we became ²  little children ³  among you. Like a nursing mother caring for her own children,

You are witnesses, and so is God, as to how holy and righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you who believe.

As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his own children,

So when we could bear it no longer, we decided to stay on in Athens ¹  alone.

in that ¹  our gospel did not come to you merely in words, ²  but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction (surely you recall the character we displayed when we came among you to help you). ³ 

For we never appeared ¹  with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed – God is our witness –

so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.

As a result you became an example ¹  to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

For the appeal we make ¹  does not come ²  from error or impurity or with deceit,

nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others,

For people everywhere ¹  report how you welcomed us ²  and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God

but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we declare it, not to please people but God, who examines our hearts.

For you became imitators, brothers and sisters, ¹  of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they in fact did from the Jews,

So ¹  when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter somehow tempted you and our toil had proven useless.