¹We thought it best to remain in Athens by ourselves. But, because we couldn’t wait any longer ⸤for news about you⸥, ²we sent our brother Timothy to you. He serves God by spreading the Good News about Christ. His mission was to strengthen and encourage you in your faith ³so that these troubles don’t disturb any of you. You know that we’re destined to suffer persecution. ⁴In fact, when we were with you, we told you ahead of time that we were going to suffer persecution. And as you know, that’s what happened. ⁵But when I couldn’t wait any longer, I sent ⸤Timothy⸥ to find out about your faith. I wanted to see whether the tempter had in some way tempted you, making our work meaningless.

⁶But Timothy has just now come back to us from you and has told us the good news about your faith and love. He also told us that you always have fond memories of us and want to see us, as we want to see you. ⁷So brothers and sisters, your faith has encouraged us in all our distress and trouble. ⁸Now we can go on living as long as you keep your relationship with the Lord firm.

⁹We can never thank God enough for all the joy you give us as we rejoice in God’s presence. ¹⁰We pray very hard night and day that we may see you again so that we can supply whatever you still need for your faith. ¹¹We pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus will guide us to you. ¹²We also pray that the Lord will greatly increase your love for each other and for everyone else, just as we love you. ¹³Then he will strengthen you to be holy. Then you will be blameless in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all God’s holy people.

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