| New International Version | New Living Translation |
| 1So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. | 1Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens, |
| 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, | 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 would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. | 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 kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. | 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 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. | 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 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. | 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 and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged 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 really live, since 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 thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? | 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 again and supply 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 clear the way for us to come to you. | 11May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. |
| 12May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does 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 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. | 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. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | 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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