Common English Bible CEB
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 So when we couldn't stand it any longer, we thought it was a good idea to stay on in Athens by ourselves,
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Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone,
2 and we sent you Timothy, who is our brother and God's coworker in the good news about Christ. We sent him to strengthen and encourage you in your faithfulness.
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and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's servant in the gospel of Christ, to establish you in your faith and to exhort you,
3 We didn't want any of you to be shaken by these problems. You know very well that we were meant to go through this.
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that no one be moved by these afflictions. You yourselves know that this is to be our lot.
4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept on predicting that we were going to face problems exactly like what happened, as you know.
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For when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction; just as it has come to pass, and as you know.
5 That's why I sent Timothy to find out about your faithfulness when I couldn't stand it anymore. I was worried that the tempter might have tempted you so that our work would have been a waste of time.
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For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent that I might know your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and that our labor would be in vain.
6 Now Timothy has returned to us from you and has given us good news about your faithfulness and love! He says that you always have good memories about us and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you.
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But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you--
7 Because of this, brothers and sisters, we were encouraged in all our distress and trouble through your faithfulness.
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for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith;
8 For now we are alive if you are standing your ground in the Lord.
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for now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.
9 How can we thank God enough for you, given all the joy we have because of you before our God?
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For what thanksgiving can we render to God for you, for all the joy which we feel for your sake before our God,
10 Night and day, we pray more than ever to see all of you in person and to complete whatever you still need for your faith.
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praying earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?
11 Now may our God and Father himself guide us on our way back to you.
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Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you;
12 May the Lord cause you to increase and enrich your love for each other and for everyone in the same way as we also love you.
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and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all men, as we do to you,
13 May the love cause your hearts to be strengthened, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his people. Amen.
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so that he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.