| New Living Translation | English Standard Version |
| 1Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens, | 1Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, |
| 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, | 2and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, |
| 3and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. | 3that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. |
| 4Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come—and they did, as you well know. | 4For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. |
| 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. | 5For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain. |
| 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. | 6But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— |
| 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. | 7for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. |
| 8It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. | 8For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. |
| 9How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. | 9For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, |
| 10Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith. | 10as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? |
| 11May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. | 11Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, |
| 12And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. | 12and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, |
| 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. | 13so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. |
| Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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