1We couldn’t wait any longer. So we thought it was best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2We sent our brother Timothy to give you strength and hope in your faith. He works together with us in God’s service to spread the good news about Christ. 3We sent him so that no one would be upset by times of testing. You know very well that we have to go through times of testing. 4In fact, when we were with you, here is what we kept telling you. We were telling you that our enemies would make us suffer. As you know very well, it has turned out that way. 5That’s the reason I sent someone to find out about your faith. I couldn’t wait any longer. I was afraid that Satan had tempted you in some way. Then our work among you would have been useless.
Timothy Brings a Good Report
6But Timothy has come to us from you just now. He has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have happy memories of us. He has also said that you desire to see us, just as we desire to see you. 7Brothers and sisters, in all our trouble and suffering your faith encouraged us. 8Now we really live, because you are standing firm in the Lord. 9How can we thank God enough for you? We thank God because of all the joy we have in his presence. We have this joy because of you. 10Night and day we pray very hard that we will see you again. We want to give you what is missing in your faith.
11Now may a way be opened up for us to come to you. May our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus do this. 12May the Lord make your love grow. May it be like a rising flood. May your love for one another increase. May it also increase for everyone else. May it be just like our love for you. 13May the Lord give you strength in your hearts. Then you will be holy and without blame in the sight of our God and Father. May that be true when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
Timotheo Atumwa Kwenda Thesalonike
13:1 Mdo 17:15; 1The 3:5; Mdo 17:14Kwa hivyo tulipokuwa hatuwezi kuvumilia zaidi, tuliamua tubaki Athene peke yetu. 23:2 Mdo 16:1; 1Kor 3:9; 2Kor 2:12Tukamtuma Timotheo ambaye ni ndugu yetu na mtumishi mwenzetu wa Mungu katika kuieneza Injili ya Kristo, aje kuwaimarisha na kuwatia moyo katika imani yenu, 33:3 Mdo 9:16; 14:22ili mtu yeyote asifadhaishwe na mateso haya. Mnajua vyema kwamba tumewekewa hayo mateso. 43:4 1The 2:14; Mdo 14:22Kwa kweli, tulipokuwa pamoja nanyi tuliwaambia mara kwa mara kwamba tutateswa na imekuwa hivyo kama mjuavyo. 53:5 Mt 4:3; Gal 2:2; Flp 2:16Kwa sababu hii nilipokuwa siwezi kuvumilia zaidi, nilimtuma mtu ili nipate habari za imani yenu. Niliogopa kwamba kwa njia fulani yule mjaribu asiwe amewajaribu, nasi tukawa tumejitaabisha bure.
Taarifa Ya Timotheo Ya Kutia Moyo
63:6 Mdo 18:5Lakini sasa Timotheo ndiyo tu amerejea kwetu kutoka kwenu na ameleta habari njema kuhusu imani yenu na upendo wenu. Ametuambia kwamba siku zote mnatukumbuka kwa wema na kwamba mna shauku ya kutuona kama vile sisi tulivyo na shauku ya kuwaona ninyi. 7Kwa hiyo, ndugu zetu, katika dhiki na mateso yetu yote tumefarijika kwa sababu ya imani yenu. 83:8 1Kor 16:13Sasa kwa kuwa hakika tunaishi, kwa kuwa ninyi mmesimama imara katika Bwana. 93:9 1The 1:2; 2:19, 20Je, tutawezaje kumshukuru Mungu kiasi cha kutosha kwa ajili yenu, kutokana na furaha tuliyo nayo mbele za Mungu wetu kwa sababu yenu? 103:10 2Tim 1:3; 1The 2:17Usiku na mchana tunaomba kwa bidii ili tupate kuwaona tena na kujaza kile kilichopungua katika imani yenu.
113:11 1The 3:13; Flp 4:20Basi Mungu wetu na Baba yetu mwenyewe na Bwana wetu Yesu atengeneze njia ya sisi kuja kwenu. 123:12 1Kor 1:8; 1The 2:19Bwana na auongeze upendo wenu na kuuzidisha kati yenu na kwa wengine wote, kama vile tulivyo na upendo mwingi kwenu. 13Tunamwomba Mungu aimarishe mioyo yenu ili msiwe na lawama katika utakatifu mbele za Mungu wetu aliye Baba yetu wakati wa kuja kwake Bwana Yesu pamoja na watakatifu wote.
