1 Wherefore, being no longer able to refrain ourselves, we thought good to be left alone in Athens,
2 and sent Timotheus, our brother and fellow-workman under God in the glad tidings of Christ, to confirm you and encourage {you} concerning your faith,
3 that no one might be moved by these afflictions. (For yourselves know that we are set for this;
4 for also, when we were with you, we told you beforehand we are about to be in tribulation, even as also it came to pass, and ye know.)
5 For this reason *I* also, no longer able to refrain myself, sent to know your faith, lest perhaps the tempter had tempted you and our labour should be come to nothing.
6 But Timotheus having just come to us from you, and brought to us the glad tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have always good remembrance of us, desiring much to see us, even as we also you;
7 for this reason we have been comforted in you, brethren, in all our distress and tribulation, through your faith,
8 because now we live if *ye* stand firm in {the} Lord.
9 For what thanksgiving can we render to God for you, for all the joy wherewith we rejoice on account of you before our God,
10 night and day beseeching exceedingly to the end that we may see your face, and perfect what is lacking in your faith?
11 But our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.
12 But you, may the Lord make to exceed and abound in love toward one another, and toward all, even as we also towards you,
13 in order to the confirming of your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
1 我们既然不能再忍下去， 就决定留在雅典，
2 派我们的弟兄， 就是在基督的福音上和 神同工的提摩太去， 为了要在你们的信仰上坚定你们， 劝慰你们，
3 免得有人在各样的患难中动摇了。你们自己知道， 我们受患难原是命定的。
4 我们在你们那里的时候， 早已对你们说过， 我们将会遭受患难。后来应验了， 这是你们知道的。
5 因此， 我既然不能再忍下去， 就派人去打听你们的信心怎样； 恐怕那试探人的诱惑了你们， 以致我们的劳苦白费了。
6 提摩太刚刚从你们那里回来， 把你们信心和爱心的好消息带给我们。他还说， 你们常常怀念我们， 切切想见我们， 好像我们想见你们一样。
7 所以弟兄们， 我们在这一切困苦患难中， 因着你们的信心就得了安慰。
8 如果你们在主里站立得稳， 我们就可以活下去了。
9 我们因你们的缘故， 在我们的 神面前满有喜乐； 为这一切喜乐， 我们可以为你们向 神献上怎么样的感谢呢！
10 我们昼夜迫切祈求， 要见你们的面， 并且要补满你们信心的不足。
11 愿我们的父 神自己和我们的主耶稣为我们开路， 使我们可以到你们那里去。
12 又愿主叫你们彼此相爱的心， 和爱众人的心， 都充充足足， 多而又多， 好像我们爱你们一样。
13 也愿他坚定你们的心， 好叫你们在我们主耶稣和众圣徒再来的时候， 在我们的父 神面前， 完全圣洁， 无可指摘。