帖撒罗尼迦前书3:1-5
1我们既不能再忍，就愿意独自等在雅典。2打发我们的兄弟在基督福音上作神执事的提摩太前去，（“作神执事的”有古卷作“与神同工的”）坚固你们，并在你们所信的道上劝慰你们。3免得有人被诸般患难摇动。因为你们自己知道我们受患难原是命定的。4我们在你们那里的时候，预先告诉你们，我们必受患难，以后果然应验了，你们也知道。5为此，我既不能再忍，就打发人去，要晓得你们的信心如何，恐怕那诱惑人的到底诱惑了你们，叫我们的劳苦归于徒然。
1Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens, 2and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker#3:2 Other manuscripts read and God’s servant; still others read and a co-worker, or and a servant and co-worker for God, or and God’s servant and our co-worker. in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, 3and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. 4Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come—and they did, as you well know. 5That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless.
