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.

So when we could stand it no longer,(A) we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.(B) We sent Timothy,(C) who is our brother and co-worker(D) in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ,(E) to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials.(F) For you know quite well that we are destined for them.(G) In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.(H) For this reason, when I could stand it no longer,(I) I sent to find out about your faith.(J) I was afraid that in some way the tempter(K) had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.(L)

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

But Timothy(M) has just now come to us from you(N) and has brought good news about your faith and love.(O) He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.(P) Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm(Q) in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you(R) in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?(S) 10 Night and day we pray(T) most earnestly that we may see you again(U) and supply what is lacking in your faith.

11 Now may our God and Father(V) himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other(W) and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless(X) and holy in the presence of our God and Father(Y) when our Lord Jesus comes(Z) with all his holy ones.(AA)