1 Wherefore, when no longer able to endure it, we were well pleased to be left behind at Athens alone,
2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God in the Gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to exhort you concerning your faith;
3 that no one should be shaken in these tribulations; for ye yourselves know that for this we are appointed.
4 For even when we were with you, we told you beforehand, "We are about to suffer tribulation"; even as also it came to pass, and ye know.
5 For this reason, I also, no longer enduring it, sent, that I might know your faith, lest by some means the tempter tempted you, and our labor should be in vain.
6 But, Timothy having just now come to us from you, and having brought us good tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us at all times, longing to see us, as we also to see you??7 for this reason, brethren, we were comforted over you, in all our tribulation and distress, through your faith;
8 because now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
9 For what thanksgiving can we render again to God concerning you for all the joy wherewith we rejoice on your account before our God;
10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and perfect the deficiencies 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 make you increase and abound in love toward one another, and toward all, as we also do toward you,
13 to the end that He may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.