Therefore, ^awhen we could no longer endure our separation from you, we thought it best to be left behind, alone at ^bAthens, 2 and so we sent ^aTimothy, our brother and God’s servant in spreading the good news of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you exhorting, comforting, and establishing you in regard to your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these difficulties to which I have referred. For you know that ^awe have been destined for this as something unavoidable in our position. 4 For even when we were with you, we warned you plainly in advance that we were going to experience persecution; ^aand so, as you know, it has come to pass. 5 For this reason, ^awhen I could no longer endure the suspense, I ^bsent someone to find out about your faith how you were holding up under pressure, for fear that somehow ^cthe tempter had tempted you and ^dour work among you would prove to be ineffective.

6 But now that ^aTimothy has come back to us from his visit with you, and has brought us good news of ^byour steadfast faith and the warmth of your love, and reported that you always ^cthink kindly of us and treasure your memories of us, longing to see us just as we long to see you, 7 for this reason, brothers and sisters, during all our distress and suffering we have been comforted and greatly encouraged about you because of your faith your unwavering trust in God—placing yourselves completely in His loving hands; 8 because now we really live in spite of everything, if you ^astand firm in the Lord. 9 For ^awhat adequate thanks can we offer to God for you in return for all the joy and delight we have before our God on your account? 10 We ^acontinue to pray night and day most earnestly that we may ^bsee you face to face, and may ^ccomplete whatever may be imperfect and lacking in your faith.

11 ^aNow may ^bour God and Father ^cHimself, and Jesus our Lord ^dguide our steps to you by removing the obstacles that stand in our way. 12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and ^aexcel and overflow in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; 13 so that He may ^astrengthen and establish your hearts ^bwithout blame in holiness in the sight of ^cour God and Father at the ^dcoming of our Lord Jesus ^ewith all His ¹saints (God’s people) .

Therefore ^awhen we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at ^bAthens alone, 2 and we sent ^aTimothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, 3 so that no one would be ¹disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that ^awe have been destined for this. 4 For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; ^1aand so it came to pass, ²as you know. 5 For this reason, ^awhen I could endure it no longer, I also ^bsent to ¹find out about your faith, for fear that ^cthe tempter might have tempted you, and ^dour labor would be in vain.

6 But now that ^aTimothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of ^byour faith and love, and that you always ^cthink kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, 7 for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; 8 for now we really live, if you ^astand firm in the Lord. 9 For ^awhat thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account, 10 as we ^anight and day keep praying most earnestly that we may ^bsee your face, and may ^ccomplete what is lacking in your faith?

11 ^aNow may ^bour God and Father ^cHimself and Jesus our Lord ^ddirect our way to you; 12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and ^aabound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; 13 so that He may ^aestablish your hearts ^bwithout blame in holiness before ^cour God and Father at the ^1dcoming of our Lord Jesus ^ewith all His ²saints.

Therefore, ^awhen we could no longer endure it, we thought it best to be left behind, alone at ^bAthens, 2 and we sent ^aTimothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you for the benefit of your faith, 3 so that no one would be ¹disturbed by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that ^awe have been destined for this. 4 For even when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; ^1aand so it happened, ²as you know. 5 For this reason, ^awhen I could no longer endure it, I also ^bsent to ¹find out about your faith, for fear that ^cthe tempter might have tempted you, and ^dour labor would be for nothing.

6 But now that ^aTimothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of ^byour faith and love, and that you always ^cthink kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, 7 for this reason, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; 8 for now we really live, if you ^astand firm in the Lord. 9 For ^awhat thanks can we give to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice because of you before our God, 10 as we ^akeep praying most earnestly night and day that we may ^bsee your faces, and may ^ccomplete what is lacking in your faith?

11 ^aNow may ^bour God and Father ^cHimself, and our Lord Jesus, ^ddirect our way to you; 12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and ^aoverflow in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; 13 so that He may ^aestablish your hearts ^bblameless in holiness before ^cour God and Father at the ^1dcoming of our Lord Jesus ^ewith all His ²saints.