1 Therefore when we couldn’t stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and God’s servant in the Good News of Christ, to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith, 3 that no one would be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task. 4 For most certainly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even as it happened, and you know. 5 For this cause I also, when I couldn’t stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor would have been in vain.
6 But Timothy just now come to us from you, and brought us glad news of your faith and love, and that you have good memories of us always, longing to see us, even as we also long to see you. 7 For this cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith. 8 For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanksgiving can we render again to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God, 10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. 12 May the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all men, even as we also do toward you, 13 to the end he may establish your hearts blameless 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。