| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1So when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens. | 1So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves 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, | 2We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God's service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and 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. | 3so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. |
| 4Indeed, when we were with you, we kept warning you that we would suffer persecution; and as you know, it has come to pass. | 4In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, 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. | 5For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain. |
| 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 Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. |
| 7For this reason, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we have been reassured about you, because of your faith. | 7Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. |
| 8For now we can go on living, as long as you are standing firm in the Lord. | 8For now we really live, since 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 can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? |
| 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 most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. |
| 11Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you. | 11Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. |
| 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, | 12May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. |
| 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 strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. |
|
    |