⁴ Recalling your tears,^(A) I long to see you,^(B) so that I may be filled with joy.

Personal Remarks

⁹ Do your best to come to me quickly,^(A)

²¹ Do your best to get here before winter.^(A) Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.^[a]

Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians

¹⁷ But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought),^(A) out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.^{(B) 18} For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan^(C) blocked our way.^{(D) 19} For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown^(E) in which we will glory^(F) in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?^(G) Is it not you? ²⁰ Indeed, you are our glory^(H) and joy.

3 So when we could stand it no longer,^(I) we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.^(J)

⁸ God can testify^(A) how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

⁴ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.^(A) There will be no more death’^[a](B) or mourning or crying or pain,^(C) for the old order of things has passed away.”^(D)

⁴ We write this^(A) to make our^[a] joy complete.^(B)

²⁶ For he longs for all of you^(A) and is distressed because you heard he was ill.