 1 When we could no longer endure+ waiting, we thought it good to be left alone at Athens, 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and servant+ of God and our fellow laborer in the Gospel of Christ, to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith, 3 so that no one would be moved by these afflictions~. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 4 For truly+ when we were with you, we told you before that we would suffer tribulation, even as it has come to pass and you know it. 5 For this reason+, when I could no longer endure+ waiting, I sent to know the condition of your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you and our labor had been in vain. 6 But now, Timothy has come to us from you and brought us good tidings of your faith and true love. He tells us that you have a good remembrance of us always and greatly desire to see us, as we also desire to see you. 7 Therefore family+, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith. 8 For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice+ for your sakes before our God. 10 Night and day we pray exceedingly that we might see you in person+ and might perfect~ what is lacking in your faith. 11 Now may God Himself, our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all people, even as we do toward you, 13 to the end that He may strengthen+ your hearts to be blameless+ in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
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