Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we decided to be left behind in Athens alone,
and we sent Timothy, our brother and co-worker of God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you because of your faith,
so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.
Indeed, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know.
For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith; I was afraid that the tempter had tempted you and that our labor might have been in vain.
But Timothy has just now come to us from you, and he brought good news about your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, just as we long to see you.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith.
For now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord.
How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you?
Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you.
And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you.
And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
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