The Daily Audio Bible

⁹ For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail. For we labored day and night (so that we would not be a burden to any of you) and preached to you the Gospel of God.

¹⁰ You and God are witnesses of how holily, and justly, and unblameably we behaved among you who believe.

¹¹ As you know how we exhorted and comforted and testified to every one of you (as a father to his children.)

¹² So that you would walk worthy of God, Who has called you to His kingdom, and glory.

¹³ For this reason also, we thank God unceasingly that when you received the word of God (which you heard from us) you did not receive it as the word of man, but as it really is - the word of God - which also works in you who believe.

¹⁴ For brothers, you have become followers of the churches of God (which in Judea are in Christ Jesus) because you have also suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they have from the Judeans,

¹⁵ who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own Prophets and have driven us out. And they do not please God and are contrary to all mankind

¹⁶ and forbid us to preach to the Gentiles (so that they might be saved), always fulfilling their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost.

¹⁷ But since, brothers, we were kept from you for a season (as far as sight, but not in the heart), we were eager to see your face with great desire.

¹⁸ Therefore, we would have come to you (I Paul, at least once or twice) but Satan hindered us.

¹⁹ For what is our hope or joy or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?

²⁰ Yes! You are our glory and joy!

3 Therefore, since we could endure it no longer, we thought it good to remain at Athens alone;

² and have sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God and our fellow laborer in the Gospel of Christ, to establish you and to comfort you regarding your faith;

³ so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.

⁴ For truly we told you before (when we were with you) that we would suffer tribulations even as it happened. And you know it.

⁵ For this reason, when I could no longer bear it, I sent him. So that I might know of your faith, lest the tempter had tempted you in any way and that our labor had been in vain.

⁶ But now, lately, when Timothy came from you to us and brought us good tidings of your faith and love (and that you have good remembrance of us always, desiring to see us, as we also you),

⁷ therefore brothers, in all our affliction and necessity, we were encouraged by you through your faith.

⁸ For now if you stand fast in the Lord, we are alive!

⁹ For what thanks can we render to God for you - for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God,

¹⁰ night and day, praying exceedingly – so that we might see your face and accomplish that which is lacking in your faith?

¹¹ Now may God himself - even our Father - and our Lord Jesus Christ, guide our journey to you.

¹² And the Lord increase you and make you abound in love toward one another, and toward all, even as we do toward you;

¹³ to make your hearts stable and unblameable in holiness before God, and our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.