'Therefore1when we could bear3itno longer,2we were willing4to be left behind5at6Athens7alone,8 and1we sent2Timothy,3our6brother5and7God’s10coworker8in11the12gospel13of Christ,15to establish18and20exhort21you19in22your25faith,24 that1no one2be moved3by4these7afflictions.6For9you10yourselves8know10that11we are destined14for12this.13 For1when3we were6with4you,5we kept telling7you8beforehand7that9we were10to suffer affliction,11just as12it has come to pass,14and15just asyou know.16 For1this2reason,1when5I3could bear5itno longer,4I sent6to learn9about11your12faith,11for fear that somehow1314the17tempter18had tempted15you16and19our25labor24would be22in20vain.21 But2now1thatTimothy4has come3to5us6from7you,8and9has brought10us11the good news of10your17faith13and14love16and18reportedthat19you20always24remember21us22kindly23andlong25to see27us,26as28we30longto [see] you —31 for1this2reason,1brothers,4in7all8our13distress12and11affliction10we have been comforted3about5you6through14your16faith.17 For1now2we live,3if4you5are standing fast6in7the Lord.8 For2what1thanksgiving3can we4return7to God6for8you,9for10all11the12joy13that14we feel15for16your17sake16before18our21God,20 as wepray5most earnestly4night1and2day3that67[we] may see8you9face to face11and12supply13what is lacking in1415your18faith?17 Now2may13our7God4and5Father6himself,1and8our11Lord10Jesus,12direct13our16way15to17you,18 and2may5the3Lord4make5you1increase5and6abound7in love9for10one another11and12for13all,14as15we17dofor18you,19 so that12hemay establish3your4hearts6blameless7in8holiness9before10our15God12and13Father,14at16the17coming18of20our21Lord20Jesus22with23all24his27saints.26