So when we could stand it no longer,(A) we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.(B) We sent Timothy,(C) who is our brother and co-worker(D) in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ,(E) to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials.(F) For you know quite well that we are destined for them.(G) In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.(H) For this reason, when I could stand it no longer,(I) I sent to find out about your faith.(J) I was afraid that in some way the tempter(K) had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.(L)

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

But Timothy(M) has just now come to us from you(N) and has brought good news about your faith and love.(O) He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.(P) Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm(Q) in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you(R) in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?(S) 10 Night and day we pray(T) most earnestly that we may see you again(U) and supply what is lacking in your faith.

11 Now may our God and Father(V) himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other(W) and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless(X) and holy in the presence of our God and Father(Y) when our Lord Jesus comes(Z) with all his holy ones.(AA)

Поради това, като не можехме вече да търпим, намерихме за добре да останем сами в Атина,

(A)и изпроводихме Тимотея, наш брат и Божий служител и наш сътрудник в Христовото благовестие, за да ви укрепи и утеши във вярата ви,

(B)та да се не смущава никой в тия скърби; защото сами знаете, че за това сме отредени.

Защото ние, и когато бяхме при вас, предсказвахме ви, че ще страдаме, както се и случи, и вие знаете.

Поради това и аз, като не можех вече да търпя, пратих да узная за вярата ви, да не би някак да ви е изкусил изкусителят, та да отиде напразно нашият труд.

Но сега, след като от вас дойде Тимотей при нас и ни донесе добра вест за вашата вяра и любов, и че винаги имате добър спомен за нас и копнеете да ни видите, както и ние вас, –

ние, при всичката ни скръб и нужда, се утешихме за вас, братя, с вашата вяра;

защото ние сме живи сега, когато вие стоите в Господа.

Каква благодарност, наистина, можем да въздадем Богу за вас, за всичката радост, с която се радваме поради вас пред нашия Бог,

10 (C)като денем и нощем твърде усърдно се молим, за да видим лицето ви и да допълним недостига на вашата вяра!

11 А Сам Бог и Отец наш и Господ наш Иисус Христос да насочи пътя ни към вас.

12 Вам пък Господ да наспори и преумножи любовта един към друг и към всички, каквато имаме и ние към вас,

13 (D)за да утвърди сърцата ви да бъдат непорочни в светост пред Бога и Отца нашего, при дохождането на Господа нашего Иисуса Христа с всичките Му светии. Амин.

Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;

And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:

Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:

For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;

10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.

12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Por tanto, cuando ya no pudimos soportarlo más, pensamos que era mejor quedarnos solos en Atenas. Así que enviamos a Timoteo, hermano nuestro y colaborador de Dios[a] en el evangelio de Cristo, con el fin de afianzarlos y animarlos en la fe para que nadie fuera perturbado por estos sufrimientos. Ustedes mismos saben que se nos destinó para esto, pues cuando estábamos con ustedes les advertimos que íbamos a padecer sufrimientos. Y así sucedió. Por eso, cuando ya no pude soportarlo más, mandé a Timoteo a indagar acerca de su fe, no fuera que el tentador los hubiera inducido a hacer lo malo y que nuestro trabajo hubiera sido en vano.

El informe alentador de Timoteo

Ahora Timoteo acaba de volver de Tesalónica con buenas noticias de la fe y del amor de ustedes. Nos dice que conservan gratos recuerdos de nosotros y que tienen muchas ganas de vernos, tanto como nosotros a ustedes. Por eso, hermanos, en medio de todas nuestras angustias y sufrimientos ustedes nos han dado ánimo por su fe. ¡Ahora sí que vivimos al saber que están firmes en el Señor! ¿Cómo podemos agradecer bastante a nuestro Dios por ustedes y por toda la alegría que nos han proporcionado delante de él? 10 Día y noche le suplicamos que nos permita verlos de nuevo para suplir lo que falta a su fe.

11 Que el Dios y Padre nuestro, y nuestro Señor Jesús, nos preparen el camino para ir a verlos. 12 Que el Señor los haga crecer para que se amen más y más unos a otros, y a todos, tal como nosotros los amamos a ustedes. 13 Que los fortalezca interiormente para que, cuando nuestro Señor Jesús venga con todos los que han creído en él, la santidad de ustedes sea intachable delante de nuestro Dios y Padre.

Footnotes

  1. 3:2 colaborador de Dios. Var. servidor de Dios; otra var. servidor de Dios y colaborador nuestro.