¹² that is, that we may be mutually encouraged ^(A)by each other's faith, both yours and mine.

⁷ for this reason, brothers,^[a] in all our distress and affliction ^(A)we have been comforted about you through your faith. ⁸ For now we live, if you ^(B)are standing fast in the Lord. ⁹ For ^(C)what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, ¹⁰ as we pray most earnestly ^(D)night and day ^(E)that we may see you face to face and ^(F)supply what is lacking in your faith?

³ For ^(A)I rejoiced greatly when the brothers^[a] came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. ⁴ I have no greater joy than to hear that ^(B)my children are walking in the truth.

Greeting

1 Simeon^[a] Peter, a servant^[b] and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained ^(A)a faith of equal standing with ours ^(B)by the righteousness of our ^(C)God and Savior Jesus Christ:

⁴ To Titus, ^(A)my true child in ^(B)a common faith:

^(C)Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

¹³ Therefore ^(A)we are comforted.

And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit ^(B)has been refreshed by you all.

⁴ I am acting with ^(A)great boldness toward you; ^(B)I have great pride in you; ^(C)I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

⁵ For even ^(D)when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—^(E)fighting without and fear within. ⁶ But ^(F)God, who comforts the downcast, ^(G)comforted us by the coming of Titus, ⁷ and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.

Paul's Longing to See Them Again

¹⁷ But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, ^(A)in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire ^(B)to see you face to face, ¹⁸ because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan ^(C)hindered us. ¹⁹ For what is our hope or ^(D)joy or crown of boasting ^(E)before our Lord Jesus at his ^(F)coming? Is it not you? ²⁰ For you are our glory and joy.

2 For I made up my mind ^(A)not to make another painful visit to you. ² For ^(B)if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? ³ And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, ^(C)for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all.