1 Therefore [when we] could bear [it] no longer, we determined to be left behind in Athens alone,
2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, in order to strengthen and to encourage you about your faith,
3 [so that] no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For [you] yourselves know that we are appointed for this,
4 for indeed when we were with you we told you beforehand that we were about to be afflicted, just as indeed it happened, and you know.
5 Because of this, I also, [when I] could endure [it] no longer, sent in order to know your faith, lest somehow the tempter tempted you and our labor should be in vain.
6 But now, [because] Timothy has come to us from you and has brought good news to us of your faith and love, and that {you always think kindly of us}, desiring to see us just as also we [desire to see] you,
7 because of this, brothers, we have been comforted because of you in all our distress and affliction through your faith,
8 because now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord.
9 For what thanks can we repay to God concerning you, because of all the joy [with] which we rejoice because of you before our God,
10 night and day praying beyond all measure that [we] may see your face and complete what is lacking in your faith?
11 Now [may] our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you,
12 and [may] the Lord [cause] you to increase and to abound in love for one another and for all, just as also we [do] for you,
13 so that your hearts may be established blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.