我們既不能再忍、就願意獨自等在雅典． 打發我們的兄弟在基督福音上作 神執事的提摩太前去、〔作 神執事的有古卷作與 神同工的〕堅固你們、並在你們所信的道上勸慰你們． 免得有人被諸般患難搖動．因為你們自己知道我們受患難原是命定的。 我們在你們那裡的時候、預先告訴你們、我們必受患難、以後果然應驗了、你們也知道。 為此、我既不能再忍、就打發人去、要曉得你們的信心如何、恐怕那誘惑人的到底誘惑了你們、叫我們的勞苦歸於徒然。 但提摩太剛纔從你們那裡回來、將你們信心和愛心的好消息報給我們、又說你們常常記念我們、切切的想見我們、如同我們想見你們一樣．所以弟兄們、我們在一切困苦患難之中、因著你們的信心就得了安慰． 你們若靠主站立得穩、我們就活了。 我們在 神面前、因著你們甚是喜樂、為這一切喜樂、可用何等的感謝、為你們報答 神呢。 我們晝夜切切的祈求、要見你們的面、補滿你們信心的不足。 願 神我們的父、和我們的主耶穌、一直引領我們到你們那裡去． 又願主叫你們彼此相愛的心、並愛眾人的心、都能增長、充足、如同我們愛你們一樣．好使你們、當我們主耶穌同他眾聖徒來的時候、在我們父 神面前、心裡堅固、成為聖潔、無可責備。
So when we could bear it no longer, we decided to stay on in Athens alone. We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and encourage you about your faith, so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. For in fact when we were with you, we were telling you in advance that we would suffer affliction, and so it has happened, as you well know. So when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter somehow tempted you and our toil had proven useless. But now Timothy has come to us from you and given us the good news of your faith and love and that you always think of us with affection and long to see us just as we also long to see you! So in all our distress and affliction, we were reassured about you, brothers and sisters, through your faith. For now we are alive again, if you stand firm in the Lord. For how can we thank God enough for you, for all the joy we feel because of you before our God? We pray earnestly night and day to see you in person and make up what may be lacking in your faith. Now may God our Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we do for you, so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
1 Thessalonians帖 撒 羅 尼 迦 前 書3:1-13 NET