New Living Translation | King James Bible |
1Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens, | 1Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left 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 sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning 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 man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. |
4Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come—and they did, as you well know. | 4For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye 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 cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour 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 when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also 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. | 7Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: |
8It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. | 8For now we live, if ye stand 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 thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes 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. | 10Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? |
11May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. | 11Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto 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 the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward 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. | 13To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 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. | King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. |
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