3:1 So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.
3:2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
3:3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them.
3:4 In 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.
3:5 For 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 might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.
3:6 But 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.
3:7 Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.
3:8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.
3:9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?
3:10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
3:11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.
3:12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
3:13 May 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.
3:1 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone,
3:2 And we sent Timothy, our brother and God s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and encourage you for the sake of your faith,
3:3 That no one would be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed for this.
3:4 For even when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to be afflicted, even as it also came to pass and you know.
3:5 Because of this, when I also could bear it no longer, I sent to find out concerning your faith, lest perhaps the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.
3:6 But Timothy, having just come to us from you and announcing the good news to us of your faith and love and that you have kind remembrance of us always and long to see us, just as we also you,
3:7 Because of this we were comforted because of you, brothers, in all our necessity and affliction, through your faith;
3:8 Because now we live if you stand firm in the Lord.
3:9 For what thanks can we return to God concerning you for all the joy with which we rejoice because of you before our God,
3:10 Night and day petitioning exceedingly so that we may see your face and complete the things that are lacking in your faith?
3:11 Now may our God and Father Himself and our Lord Jesus make straight our path to you;
3:12 And the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we also to you,
3:13 So that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.