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1 That is why, when our separation from you became too much for us to endure, we decided it would be best for us to remain in Athens by ourselves,
2 and sent Timothy—our brother and fellow worker for God in proclaiming the gospel about the Messiah—to strengthen you and help your faith,
3 so that none of you would fall away on account of these persecutions. You yourselves, after all, know that we are for such trials appointed.
4 Indeed, when we were with you we warned you again and again that we are destined to suffer trials and persecution—and things turned out just as we said, as you well know.
5 That is the reason why I, when I could no longer endure the separation, sent someone to find out about the status of your faith; my fear was that the tempter had somehow tempted you and our hard work and effort had been for nothing.
6 Well, Timothy has just returned to us from his time with you and has told us the good news about your steadfast faith and love, and how when we come to your minds it brings you joy, and how there isn’t a moment you don’t miss and eagerly desire to see us again, just as we do you.
7 For that reason we have been strengthened, brothers and sisters, because of you, in the midst of our own distress and trials, by the news of your firm faith.
8 Now we can breathe again—provided you continue to stand firm in union with the Lord.
9 Indeed, how can we ever give enough thanks for you to God, in return for all the joy we have because of you in the presence of our God,
10 as we pray night and day and day and night, most earnestly, to see you again in person and help along the areas of your faith that still need to mature?
11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus open up the way for us to come to you.
12 And as for you, may the Lord make you increasingly and abundantly rich in love for one another and for everyone else, just as we are for you,
13 strengthening you on the inside so that you may be blameless and holy in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.