¹² that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by ^(A)the mutual faith both of you and me.

⁷ therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress ^(A)we were comforted concerning you by your faith. ⁸ For now we live, if you ^(B)stand fast in the Lord.

⁹ For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, ¹⁰ night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face ^(C)and perfect what is lacking in your faith?

³ For I ^(A)rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. ⁴ I have no greater ^(B)joy than to hear that ^(C)my children walk in ^[a]truth.

Greeting the Faithful

1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and ^(A)apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have ^[a]obtained ^(B)like^[b] precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

⁴ To ^(A)Titus, a true son in our common faith:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and ^[a]the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

The Joy of Titus

¹³ Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit ^(A)has been refreshed by you all.

^4 (A)Great is my boldness of speech toward you, ^(B)great is my boasting on your behalf. ^(C)I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.

⁵ For indeed, ^(D)when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but ^(E)we were troubled on every side. ^(F)Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. ⁶ Nevertheless ^(G)God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by ^(H)the coming of Titus, ⁷ and not only by his coming, but also by the ^[a]consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.

Longing to See Them

¹⁷ But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time ^(A)in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. ¹⁸ Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but ^(B)Satan hindered us. ¹⁹ For ^(C)what is our hope, or joy, or ^(D)crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the ^(E)presence of our Lord Jesus Christ ^(F)at His coming? ²⁰ For you are our glory and joy.

Paul Urges Forgiveness

2 But I determined this within myself, ^(A)that I would not come again to you in sorrow. ² For if I make you ^(B)sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?

Forgive the Offender

³ And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, ^(C)I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, ^(D)having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all.