Timotheo Atumwa Kwenda Thesalonike

Hatimaye tuliposhindwa kuvumilia zaidi, tuliona afadhali tubaki Athene peke yetu. Tukamtuma Timotheo ambaye ni ndugu yetu na mtumishi wa Mungu katika kuieneza Habari Njema ya Kristo, aje kuwaimarisha na kuwatia moyo ili asije mtu akababaishwa na mateso haya. Kama mjuavyo, tumepangiwa mateso. Hata tulipokuwa pamoja nanyi tuliwaambia mara kwa mara kwamba tutateswa, na kama mjuavyo ndivyo ilivyokuwa. Ndio maana niliposhindwa kuvumilia nilituma mtu ili nifahamu msimamo wenu katika imani. Niliogopa kuwa pengine yule mjaribu shetani alikuwa amewajaribu na kwamba pengine juhudi yetu kwenu ingekuwa ni bure.

Taarifa Ya Timotheo

Lakini sasa Timotheo amekwisha rejea kutoka kwenu na ameleta taarifa nzuri kuhusu imani yenu na upendo wenu. Ametuam bia kwamba mnatukumbuka kwa wema na kwamba mna hamu siku zote kutuona kama nasi tulivyo na hamu ya kuwaona. Kwa sababu hiyo ndugu zetu, katika dhiki na mateso yetu yote tumefarijika kwa ajili yenu, kutokana na imani yenu. Maana sasa hakika tunaishi kwa kuwa ninyi mmesimama imara katika Bwana. Tutawezaje kumshu kuru Mungu kiasi cha kutosha kwa ajili yenu, kutokana na furaha tuliyo nayo mbele za Mungu wetu kwa sababu yenu? 10 Usiku na mchana tunaomba kwa bidii ili tuwezeshwe kuwaona tena na kuwapa tieni kile ambacho bado kinapungua katika imani yenu.

11 Tunamwomba Mungu, Baba yetu mwenyewe na Bwana wetu Yesu atutayarishie njia ya kuja kwenu. 12 Bwana na awawezeshe ninyi kupendana zaidi na zaidi na kuwapenda watu wote kama sisi tunav yowapenda ninyi. 13 Tunamwomba awaimarisheni mioyo ili msiwe na lawama bali muwe watakatifu mbele za Mungu Baba yetu, wakati Bwana wetu Yesu atakapokuja pamoja na watakatifu wake wote.

Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;

And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:

Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:

For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;

10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.

12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.