1 So when I could not bear it any longer, I decided to be left behind in Athens alone,
2 and so I sent my brother Timothy, God's minister in the preaching of the good news of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
3 so that none of you might be deceived amid these difficulties. For you knew yourselves that this is our appointed lot,
4 for when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we were going to be pressed with difficulties, and it took place, as you know.
5 That was why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for I was afraid that the tempter had tempted you and our labor might be lost.
6 But now, since Timothy has just come back to me from you, and brought me good tidings of your faith and love, and told me how kindly you remembered me and that you are longing to see me as much as I am to see you,
7 this is the very reason, namely, through your faith, brothers, that I have been encouraged about you, in spite of all my distresses and crushing difficulties,
8 for now I am really living, since you are standing firm in the Lord.
9 For how can I render God enough thanks for you, for all the joy I have on account of you in the presence of our God,
10 as night and day I continue to pray with deepest earnestness and keenest eagerness that I may see your faces and round out to completeness what is lacking in your faith?
11 Now may our God and Father Himself and our Lord Jesus guide my way to you!
12 May the Lord make you increase and overflow in love for one another and for all men, as my love for you does,
13 so that He may strengthen your hearts to be faultless in purity in the sight of God, when our Lord Jesus comes back with all His consecrated ones.