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.