Encouragement of Timothy’s Visit

3 Therefore, ^(A)when we could no longer endure it, we thought it best to be left behind, alone at ^(B)Athens, ² and we sent ^(C)Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you for the benefit of your faith, ³ so that no one would be ^[a]disturbed by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that ^(D)we have been destined for this. ⁴ For even when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; ^[b](E)and so it happened, ^[c]as you know. ⁵ For this reason, ^(F)when I could no longer endure it, I also ^(G)sent to ^[d]find out about your faith, for fear that ^(H)the tempter might have tempted you, and ^(I)our labor would be for nothing.

⁶ But now that ^(J)Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of ^(K)your faith and love, and that you always ^(L)think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, ⁷ for this reason, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; ⁸ for now we really live, if you ^(M)stand firm in the Lord. ⁹ For ^(N)what thanks can we give to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice because of you before our God, ¹⁰ as we ^(O)keep praying most earnestly night and day that we may ^(P)see your faces, and may ^(Q)complete what is lacking in your faith?

^11 (R)Now may ^(S)our God and Father ^(T)Himself, and our Lord Jesus, ^(U)direct our way to you; ¹² and may the Lord cause you to increase and ^(V)overflow in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; ¹³ so that He may ^(W)establish your hearts ^(X)blameless in holiness before ^(Y)our God and Father at the ^[e](Z)coming of our Lord Jesus ^(AA)with all His ^[f]saints.