WHEREFORE, when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone; (2)and sent Timothy, our brother, and a fellow-worker with God in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to exhort you concerning your faith; (3)that no one should be shaken by these afflictions, for yourselves know that unto this we are appointed. (4)For even when we were with you, we told you before that we are to suffer affliction; as also it came to pass, and ye know. (5)For this cause, when I too could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter tempted you, and our labor should be in vain. (6)But now, when Timothy came to us from you, and brought us good tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you; (7)for this cause we were consoled, brethren, over you in all our affliction and distress, through your faith; (8)because now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. (9)For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy wherewith we rejoice for your sakes before our God; (10)night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith? (11)Now God and our Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. (12)And the Lord make you increase and abound in love toward one another, and toward all, as we also do toward you; (13)to the end he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God and our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. IV. FURTHERMORE then, brethren, we beseech you, and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as ye received from us how ye ought to walk and to please God, as also ye are walking, ye would abound yet more. (2)For ye know what commands we gave you, through the Lord Jesus. (3)For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that ye abstain from fornication; (4)that each one of you know how to possess[4:4] his vessel in sanctification and honor; (5)not in lustful passion, as also the Gentiles who know not God. (6)That no one go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter[4:6]; because the Lord is the avenger for all these things, as we also told you before, and testified. (7)For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in sanctification. (8)Therefore he that rejects, rejects not man, but God, who also gave to you his Holy Spirit. (9)But concerning brotherly love ye need not that I write to you; for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. (10)For indeed ye do it, toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we beseech you, brethren, to abound yet more; (11)and to study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; (12)that ye may walk becomingly toward those without, and may have need of nothing.