13 And we also thank God ^sconstantly¹ for this, that when you received the word of God, which you ^theard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men² but as what it really is, the word of God, which is ^uat work in you believers. 14 For you, brothers, ^vbecame imitators of ^wthe churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For ^xyou suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,³ 15 ^ywho killed both the Lord Jesus and the ^zprophets, and ^adrove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to ^bfill up the measure of their sins. But ^cwrath has come upon them at last!⁴

Paul’s Longing to See Them Again

17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to ^dsee you face to face, 18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our ^ehope or ^fjoy or crown of ^gboasting before our Lord Jesus at his ^hcoming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.

1 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, ⁱwe were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and ^jwe sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker¹ in the gospel of Christ, to ^kestablish and exhort you in your faith, 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that ^lwe are destined for this. 4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, ^mjust as it has come to pass, and just as you know. 5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the ⁿtempter had tempted you and our labor would be ^oin vain.

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

6 But ^pnow that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and ^qlove and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— 7 for this reason, brothers,² in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. 8 For now we live, if you are ^rstanding fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly ^snight and day that we may ^tsee you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, ^udirect our way to you, 12 and may the Lord ^vmake you increase and abound in love ^wfor one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that ^xhe may ^yestablish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the ^zcoming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.