| New Living Translation | NET Bible |
| 1Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens, | 1So when we could bear it no longer, we decided to stay on in 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, | 2We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and encourage you about 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. | 3so that no one would be shaken 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 in fact when we were with you, we were telling you in advance that we would suffer affliction, and so it has happened, as you well 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. | 5So when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter somehow tempted you and our toil had proven useless. |
| 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 Timothy has come to us from you and given us the good news of your faith and love and that you always think of us with affection and long to see us just as we also 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. | 7So in all our distress and affliction, we were reassured about you, brothers and sisters, through your faith. |
| 8It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. | 8For now we are alive again, if you stand firm in the Lord. |
| 9How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. | 9For how can we thank God enough for you, for all the joy we feel because of you 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. | 10We pray earnestly night and day to see you in person and make up what may be lacking in your faith. |
| 11May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. | 11Now may God our 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 cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just 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 your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. |
|
    |