002:010 You are witnesses with God, how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who believe. 002:011 As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a father does his own children, 002:012 to the end that you should walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own Kingdom and glory. 002:013 For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe. 002:014 For you, brothers, became imitators of the assemblies of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus; for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews; 002:015 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out, and didn't please God, and are contrary to all men; 002:016 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always. But wrath has come on them to the uttermost. 002:017 But we, brothers, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence, not in heart, tried even harder to see your face with great desire, 002:018 because we wanted to come to you--indeed, I, Paul, once and again-- but Satan hindered us. 002:019 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn't it even you, before our Lord Jesus{TR adds "Christ"} at his coming? 002:020 For you are our glory and our joy. 003:001 Therefore, when we couldn't stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone, 003:002 and sent Timothy, our brother and God's servant in the Good News of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith; 003:003 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task. 003:004 For most certainly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even as it happened, and you know. 003:005 For this cause I also, when I couldn't stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor would have been in vain. 003:006 But when Timothy came just now to us from you, and brought us glad news of your faith and love, and that you have good memories of us always, longing to see us, even as we also long to see you; 003:007 for this cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith. 003:008 For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. 003:009 For what thanksgiving can we render again to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God;