Timothy’s Visit 1 UDB As a result of that, when I could no longer endure worrying about you, I decided that Silas and I would stay behind alone in the city of Athens, BSB BSB: So when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens.
2 UDB and we sent Timothy to you. You know that he is our close associate and also works for God by proclaiming the good news about Christ. Silas and I sent him so that he would urge you to continue to strongly trust in Christ. BSB BSB: We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
3 UDB We did not want any of you to turn away from Christ in fear because of what you were suffering. You well know that God knew that others would mistreat us because of Christ. BSB BSB: so that none of you would be shaken by these trials. For you know that we are destined for this.
4 UDB Remember that when we were present with you, we kept telling you that others would mistreat us. And that is what happened, as you know. BSB BSB: Indeed, when we were with you, we kept warning you that we would suffer persecution; and as you know, it has come to pass.
5 UDB This is why I sent Timothy to you, because I could wait no longer to know whether you were still trusting in Christ. I was afraid that Satan, the one who tempts us, had caused you to stop trusting in Christ. I was afraid that everything we had done with you was useless. BSB BSB: For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted you and that our labor might have been in vain.
Timothy’s Encouraging Report 6 UDB But now Timothy has just returned to Silas and me from being with you, and he has told us the good news that you still trust in Christ and that you love him. He told us also that you always happily remember us and that you want very much for us to visit you, just as we want to visit you. BSB BSB: But just now, Timothy has returned from his visit with the good news about your faith, your love, and the fond memories you have preserved, longing to see us just as we long to see you.
7 UDB My fellow believers, even though we are suffering very much because of what people are doing to us here, we have been comforted because Timothy told us that you still trust in Christ. BSB BSB: For this reason, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we have been reassured about you, because of your faith.
8 UDB Now it is as if we are living in a new way because you are trusting very much in the Lord Jesus. BSB BSB: For now we can go on living, as long as you are standing firm in the Lord.
9 UDB We cannot thank God enough for what he has done for you! We greatly rejoice over you when we pray to our God! BSB BSB: How can we adequately thank God for you in return for our great joy over you in His presence?
10 UDB We constantly and fervently ask God that we will be able to visit you and that we will be able to help you to trust in Christ more strongly! BSB BSB: Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith.
11 UDB We pray to God our Father and to our Lord Jesus that they will enable us to return to you. BSB BSB: Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.
12 UDB As for you, we pray that the Lord Jesus will help you to love each other and other people more and more, just like we continue loving you more and more. BSB BSB: And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows,
13 UDB We pray that our Lord Jesus will make you strong in your thoughts, feelings, and purposes, so that when you stand before God our Father when Jesus comes back to earth, he will not accuse you of doing any wrong, and you will bring honor to God by the way you have lived your life. BSB BSB: so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.