1 Thessalonians 2:5-9

For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is our witness—

nor did we seek honor from people, either from you or from others, though we could have asserted our authority as apostles of Christ.

But we proved to be gentle among you. As a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children,

in the same way we had a fond affection for you and were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.

For you recall, brothers and sisters, our labor and hardship: it was by working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, that we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.