| Berean Study Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1So when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens. | 1Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens, |
| 2We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, | 2and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, |
| 3so that none of you would be shaken by these trials. For you know that we are destined for this. | 3and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. |
| 4Indeed, when we were with you, we kept warning you that we would suffer persecution; and as you know, it has come to pass. | 4Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come—and they did, as you well know. |
| 5For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted you and caused our labor to be in vain. | 5That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless. |
| 6But just now, Timothy has returned from his visit with the good news about your faith, your love, and the fond memories you have preserved, longing to see us just as we long to see you. | 6But now Timothy has just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love. He reports that you always remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you. |
| 7For this reason, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we have been reassured about you, because of your faith. | 7So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. |
| 8For now we can go on living, as long as you are standing firm in the Lord. | 8It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. |
| 9How can we adequately thank God for you in return for our great joy over you in His presence? | 9How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. |
| 10Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking from your faith. | 10Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith. |
| 11Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you. | 11May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. |
| 12And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows, | 12And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. |
| 13so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen. | 13May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen. |
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