3 Therefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone,
2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God and our fellow laborer in the Gospel of Christ, to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith,
3 that no man should be moved by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that thereunto we are appointed.
4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we should suffer tribulation, even as it came to pass, as ye know.
5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor be in vain.
6 But now when Timothy came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have a good remembrance of us always and desire greatly to see us (as we also desire to see you),
7 therefore brethren, we were comforted concerning you in all our affliction and distress by your faith;
8 for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you for all the joy wherewith we rejoice for your sakes before our God,
10 as we pray earnestly night and day that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
11 Now may God Himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way unto you.
12 And may the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another and toward all men, even as we do toward you,
13 to the end that He may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
