¹Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing dto be left behind at Athens alone, ²and we esent Timothy, four brother and God's coworker1 in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, ³that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that gwe are destined for this. ⁴For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, hjust as it has come to pass, and just as you know. ⁵For this reason, iwhen I could bear it no longer, iI sent to learn about your faith, jfor fear that somehow kthe tempter had tempted you and lour labor would be in vain.

Timothy's Encouraging Report

⁶But mnow that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of nyour faith and love and reported othat you always remember us kindly and plong to see us, as we long to see you— ⁷for this reason, brothers,2 in all our distress and affliction qwe have been comforted about you through your faith. ⁸For now we live, if you rare standing fast in the Lord. ⁹For swhat thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, ¹⁰as we pray most earnestly tnight and day uthat we may see you face to face and vsupply what is lacking in your faith?

¹¹Now may wour God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, xdirect our way to you, ¹²and may the Lord ymake you increase and abound in love zfor one another and for all, as we do for you, ¹³so that he may aestablish your hearts blameless in holiness before wour God and Father, at bthe coming of our Lord Jesus cwith all his saints.