² and sent ^(A)Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,

²² strengthening the souls of the disciples, ^(A)exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ^(B)“We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” ²³ So when they had ^(C)appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

A Gracious Greeting

²¹ But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, ^(A)Tychicus, a beloved brother and ^(B)faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you; ^22 (C)whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may ^(D)comfort your hearts.

Timothy Commended

¹⁹ But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send ^(A)Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your ^[a]state. ²⁰ For I have no one ^(B)like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. ²¹ For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. ²² But you know his proven character, ^(C)that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. ²³ Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. ²⁴ But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.

Epaphroditus Praised

²⁵ Yet I considered it necessary to send to you ^(D)Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and ^(E)fellow soldier, ^(F)but your messenger and ^(G)the one who ministered to my need;

²⁵ And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,

²³ If anyone inquires about ^(A)Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are ^(B)messengers^[a] of the churches, the glory of Christ.

¹⁹ For ^(A)the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, ^(B)Silvanus, and ^(C)Timothy—was not Yes and No, ^(D)but in Him was Yes.

Greeting

1 Paul, ^(A)an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and ^(B)Timothy our brother,

To the church of God which is at Corinth, ^(C)with all the saints who are in all Achaia:

¹⁰ And ^(A)if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for ^(B)he does the work of the Lord, as I also do. ^11 (C)Therefore let no one despise him. But send him on his journey ^(D)in peace, that he may come to me; for I am waiting for him with the brethren.

¹² Now concerning our brother ^(E)Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has a convenient time.