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Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens, and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker[a] in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come—and they did, as you well know. That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:2 Other manuscripts read and God’s servant; still others read and a co-worker, or and a servant and co-worker for God, or and God’s servant and our co-worker.

Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we decided to be left alone in Athens(A) and sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker[a] in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you for the sake of your faith,(B) so that no one would be shaken by these persecutions. Indeed, you yourselves know that this is what we are destined for.(C) In fact, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we were to suffer persecution; so it turned out, as you know. For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith; I was afraid that somehow the tempter had tempted you and that our labor had been in vain.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. 3.2 Other ancient authorities read minister or God’s minister and our coworker