Bible Time

¹AND because we could no longer withstand these obstacles, we decided to remain at Athens alone; ²And send Timotheus, our brother, a minister of God and our helper in the gospel of Messiah, to sustain you and comfort you concerning your faith, ³So that no man among you might be disheartened by these tribulations; for you, yourselves, know that this is our destiny. ⁴For assuredly when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulations, even as it has come to pass, and as you know. ⁵For this reason also, when I could no longer wait, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you and our labor was in vain.

⁶But now since Timotheus has returned to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, just as we also long to see you; ⁷Therefore, our brothers, we have been comforted by you, in the middle of all our distress and tribulations because of your faith; ⁸Now we can live happily, if you stand firm in our Lord. ⁹What thanks can we offer to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes, ¹⁰Except, before God to offer supplication abundantly night and day, to see your faces and to complete that which is lacking in your faith?

¹¹Now may God our Father and our Lord Jesus Messiah direct our journey to you, ¹²And may the Lord increase and enrich your love toward one another and toward all men, even as we love you; ¹³And may he strengthen your hearts to be without blemish in holiness before God our Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Messiah with all his saints.