1 Thessalonians 2:17–3:5

¹⁷But we, brethren, ^cbeing taken from you ^dfor a short time ^ein presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly ^fto see your face with great desire. ¹⁸Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but ^gSatan ^hhindered us. ¹⁹For what is our hope, or ⁱjoy, or ⁱcrown of ^krejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ ^lat his coming? ²⁰For ye are our glory and joy.

III.Wherefore ^awhen we could no longer ^bforbear, ^cwe thought it good to be left at Athens alone; ²and sent ^cdTimotheus, ^ccour brother, and minister of God, and our ^defellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, ^fto establish you, and to ^gcomfort you concerning your faith: ³that no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that ^hwe are appointed thereunto. ⁴For verily, when we were with you, we told you before ^hthat we should suffer tribulation; even as ⁱit came to pass, and ye know. ⁵For this cause, ^awhen I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means ^kthe tempter ^lhave tempted you, and ^mour labour be in vain.