| Holman Christian Standard Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1Therefore, when we could no longer stand it, we thought it was better to be left alone in Athens. | 1Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens, |
| 2And we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you concerning 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 no one will be shaken by these persecutions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to 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. |
| 4In fact, when we were with you, we told you previously that we were going to suffer persecution, and as you know, it happened. | 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 no longer stand it, I also sent him to find out about your faith, fearing that the tempter had tempted you and that our labor might be for nothing. | 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 now Timothy has come to us from you and brought us good news about your faith and love and reported that you always have good memories of us, wanting to see us, as we also want 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. |
| 7Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we were encouraged about you through 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 live, if you stand firm in the Lord. | 8It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. |
| 9How can we thank God for you in return for all the joy we experience before our God because of you, | 9How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. |
| 10as we pray very earnestly night and day to see you face to face and to complete what is lacking in 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, just as we also do for 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. |
| 13May He make your hearts blameless in 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. |
| Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | 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. |
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