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¹ Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing ^(a)to be left behind at Athens alone, ² and we ^(b)sent Timothy, ^(c)our brother and God's coworker^[a] in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, ³ that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that ^(d)we are destined for this. ⁴ For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, ^(e)just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. ⁵ For this reason, ^(f)when I could bear it no longer, ^(g)I sent to learn about your faith, ^(h)for fear that somehow ⁽ⁱ⁾the tempter had tempted you and ^(j)our labor would be in vain.

Timothy's Encouraging Report

⁶ But ^(k)now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of ^(l)your faith and love and reported ^(m)that you always remember us kindly and ⁽ⁿ⁾long to see us, as we long to see you— ⁷ for this reason, brothers,^[b] in all our distress and affliction ^(o)we have been comforted about you through your faith. ⁸ For now we live, if you ^(p)are standing fast in the Lord. ⁹ For ^(q)what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, ¹⁰ as we pray most earnestly ^(r)night and day ^(s)that we may see you face to face and ^(t)supply what is lacking in your faith?

¹¹ Now may ^(u)our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, ^(v)direct our way to you, ¹² and may the Lord ^(w)make you increase and abound in love ^(x)for one another and for all, as we do for you, ¹³ so that he may ^(y)establish your hearts blameless in holiness before ^(z)our God and Father, at ^(aa)the coming of our Lord Jesus ^(ab)with all his saints.