3
So then, when we {felt like we} could not possibly wait any longer, we thought it was appropriate for only Silas and me to stay behind in the city of Athens. 2 But, we still sent Timothy {to you}. He works alongside us and serves God by {proclaiming} the good news about the Messiah. {Silas and I sent him} in order to support and encourage you to remain faithful {to God}. 3 {We also sent Timothy to you} so that when people afflict us {apostles}, it would not cause any of you to waver {in how you trust God}. You are well aware that {God} determined that people would afflict us {apostles}. 4 In fact, even while we {apostles} were visiting you, we kept warning you ahead of time. We warned you that God determined for people to afflict us {apostles}. You are well aware that this is exactly what occurred. 5 Again this is why, when I {felt like I} could not possibly wait any longer, I sent {Timothy to you. I was concerned} to learn if you were still trusting {in God. I was concerned that} somehow Satan tempted you {to stop trusting in God. If you would have stopped trusting in God,} then all of the hard work we accomplished {among you} would have turned out to be useless!6 Timothy recently returned to Silas and me from his visit with you. He told us the good news about how much you trust and love {God. He also told us} that whenever you think about us, it makes you happy. {He told us} how much you desire to visit us. We have that same desire too! 7 {Our} fellow believers in the Messiah, during the whole time people abused and afflicted us–God encouraged us about you. We were encouraged {when learning from Timothy} that you {still} trust {in God}. 8 Indeed, we feel revived since you continue {to trust} in the Lord {Jesus}! 9 Indeed, we cannot thank God enough for what he has done for you! {When we pray} to our God, we abundantly rejoice because of {how much} you {trust in him}! 10 We constantly and excessively beg God {that we would be able} to see you in person. {We} also {desire} to help you increase how much you trust {in God}!
11 Now, we pray to God our Father, and to our Lord Jesus, that they will allow us to visit you {again}! 12 {We} pray that the Lord {Jesus} will cause you to increase more and more in how much you love your fellow believer. {We} also pray that he will cause you to excel in loving all people. This is exactly the way we love you! 13 {We pray that our Lord Jesus} will strengthen how much you desire {to love each other. We pray that our Lord Jesus} will enable you to live in a way that God our Father considers faultless for those who belong to him. {We pray all of these things so that you will be ready} when our Lord Jesus comes {a second time}, bringing all those who belong to him. May it be so!