1 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing *Acts 17:15,16to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we *See Phil. 2:19sent Timothy, *2 Cor. 1:1;Col. 1:1;Philem. 1;Heb. 13:23our brother and God’s coworker*3:2 Some manuscripts servant in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that *See Acts 9:16;14:22we are destined for this. 4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, *See ch. 2:14just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. 5 For this reason, *ver. 1, 2when I could bear it no longer, *ver. 1, 2I sent to learn about your faith, *[1 Cor. 7:5;2 Cor. 11:3] for fear that somehow *Matt. 4:3the tempter had tempted you and *See Phil. 2:16our labor would be in vain.

6 But *Acts 18:5;[2 Cor. 7:6,9] now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of *See ch. 1:3your faith and love and reported *[1 Cor. 11:2] that you always remember us kindly and *See Phil. 1:8long to see us, as we long to see you— 7 for this reason, brothers,*3:7 Or brothers and sisters in all our distress and affliction *2 Cor. 1:4we have been comforted about you through your faith. 8 For now we live, if you *See 1 Cor. 16:13are standing fast in the Lord. 9 For *[ch. 1:2]what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly *2 Tim. 1:3night and day *ch. 2:17;[Rom. 1:10] that we may see you face to face and *See 2 Cor. 13:9supply what is lacking in your faith?

11 Now may *See Gal. 1:4our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, *2 Thess. 3:5direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord *ch. 4:1,10;Phil. 1:9;2 Thess. 1:3make you increase and abound in love *ch. 4:9;5:15for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may *James 5:8establish your hearts blameless in holiness before *[See ver. 11above] our God and Father, at *See ch. 2:19the coming of our Lord Jesus *Zech. 14:5;Jude 14with all his saints.