1 Thessalonians 2:5-6,11
1 Thessalonians 2:5-6 New International Version (NIV)
You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.
1 Thessalonians 2:11 New International Version (NIV)
For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children
1 Thessalonians 2:5-6 New King James Version (NKJV)
For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.
I Thessalonians 2:11 New King James Version (NKJV)
as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children
1 Thessalonians 2:5-6 New Living Translation (NLT)
Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money! As for human praise, we have never sought it from you or anyone else.
1 Thessalonians 2:11 New Living Translation (NLT)
And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children.
1 Thessalonians 2:3-8 The Message (MSG)
God tested us thoroughly to make sure we were qualified to be trusted with this Message. Be assured that when we speak to you we’re not after crowd approval—only God approval. Since we’ve been put through that battery of tests, you’re guaranteed that both we and the Message are free of error, mixed motives, or hidden agendas. We never used words to butter you up. No one knows that better than you. And God knows we never used words as a smoke screen to take advantage of you. Even though we had some standing as Christ’s apostles, we never threw our weight around or tried to come across as important, with you or anyone else. We weren’t standoffish with you. We took you just as you were. We were never patronizing, never condescending, but we cared for you the way a mother cares for her children. We loved you dearly. Not content to just pass on the Message, we wanted to give you our hearts. And we did.
1 Thessalonians 2:9-12 The Message (MSG)
You remember us in those days, friends, working our fingers to the bone, up half the night, moonlighting so you wouldn’t have the burden of supporting us while we proclaimed God’s Message to you. You saw with your own eyes how discreet and courteous we were among you, with keen sensitivity to you as fellow believers. And God knows we weren’t freeloaders! You experienced it all firsthand. With each of you we were like a father with his child, holding your hand, whispering encouragement, showing you step-by-step how to live well before God, who called us into his own kingdom, into this delightful life.
1 Thessalonians 2:5-6 King James Version (KJV)
For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 2:11 King James Version (KJV)
as ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children
1 Thessalonians 2:5-6 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness— nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.
1 Thessalonians 2:11 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children
1 Thessalonians 2:5-6 New Century Version (NCV)
You know that we never tried to influence you by saying nice things about you. We were not trying to get your money; we had no selfishness to hide from you. God knows that this is true. We were not looking for human praise, from you or anyone else
1 Thessalonians 2:11 New Century Version (NCV)
You know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children.
1 Thessalonians 2:5-6 American Standard Version (ASV)
For neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness, God is witness; nor seeking glory of men, neither from you nor from others, when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 2:11 American Standard Version (ASV)
as ye know how we dealt with each one of you, as a father with his own children, exhorting you, and encouraging you, and testifying
1 Thessalonians 2:5-6 Amplified Bible (AMP)
For as you well know, we never came with words of flattery nor with a pretext for greed—God is our witness— nor did we seek glory and honor from people, neither from you nor from anyone else, though as apostles of Christ we had the power to assert our authority.
1 Thessalonians 2:11 Amplified Bible (AMP)
For you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you just as a father does [in dealing with] his own children, [guiding you]
1 Thessalonians 2:5-6 The Passion Translation (TPT)
God is our witness that when we came to encourage you, we never once used cunning compliments as a pretext for greed, nor did we crave the praises of men, whether you or others.
1 Thessalonians 2:11 The Passion Translation (TPT)
And you know how affectionately we treated each one of you, like a loving father cares for his own children.