⁸ We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

Anxiety in Athens

3 Therefore, when we could no longer stand it, we thought it was better to be left alone in Athens.^{(A) 2} And we sent Timothy,^(B) our brother and God’s coworker^[a] in the gospel of Christ,^(C) to strengthen and encourage you concerning your faith, ³ so that no one will be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. ⁴ In fact, when we were with you, we told you in advance that we were going to experience affliction, and as you know, it happened. ⁵ For this reason, when I could no longer stand it, I also sent him to find out about your faith, fearing that the tempter had tempted you and that our labor might be for nothing.