¹⁷But as for us, brothers, after we were forced to leave you for a short time (in person, not in heart ^j), we greatly desired and made every effort to return ^kand see you face to face. ¹⁸So we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan ^lhindered us. ¹⁹For who is our hope or joy ^mor crown ⁿof boasting ^oin the presence of our Lord ^pJesus at His coming? ^qIs it not you? ^r²⁰For you are our glory ^sand joy!

Anxiety in Athens

3Therefore, when we could no longer stand it, we thought it was better to be left alone in Athens. ^t²And we sent Timothy, ^uour brother and God’s coworker ^vin the gospel of Christ, ^wto strengthen and encourage you concerning your faith, ³so that no one will be shaken by these persecutions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to ^xthis. ⁴In fact, when we were with you, we told you previously that we were going to suffer persecution, and as you know, it happened. ⁵For this reason, when I could no longer stand it, I also sent him to find out about your faith, fearing that the tempter had tempted you and that our labor might be for nothing.

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Footnotes

v3:2 Other read servant
x3:3 Or are destined for

Cross references

j2:17 Col 2:5
k2:17 1Th 3:10
l2:18 Mt 4:1, 10; Ac 13:10
m2:19 Jn 15:11; 2Co 6:10
n2:19 Rv 12:1
o2:19 2Co 12:5; Jms 4:16
p2:19 Rv 11:8
q2:19 1Th 1:10; 1Jn 2:28
r2:19 1Co 15:31; 2Co 1:14; Php 4:1; 2Th 1:4
s2:20 Jn 12:43; Php 3:19
t3:1 Ac 17:15
u3:2 Ac 16:1; 1Tm 1:2
w3:2 Php 1:27