¶ Wherefore since we could no longer forbear, it pleased us to remain at Athens alone, and sent Timotheus our brother and minister of God, and our labourfellow in the gospell of Christ, to stablish you, and to comfort you over your faith, that no man should be moved in these afflictions. For ye yourselves know that we are even appointed thereunto. For verily when I was with you, I told you before that we should suffer tribulation even as it came to pass, and as ye know. For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent that I might have knowledge of your faith, lest haply the tempter had tempted you, and that our labour had been bestowed in vain.
¶ Now lately when Timotheus came from you unto us and declared to us your faith, and your love, and how that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring to see us, as we desire to see you. Therefore brethren had I consolation in you, in all our adversity, and necessity through your faith. For now are we alive if ye stand steadfast in the Lord. For what thanks can we recompense to God again for you, over all the joy that we joy for your sakes before our God, while we night and day pray exceedingly, that we might see you presently, and might fulfil that which is lacking in your faith.
¶ God himself our father, and our Lord Iesus Christ guide our journey unto you: and the Lord increase you, and make you flow over in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you, to stablish your hearts that they might be without ought to be complained on, in holiness before God our father, at the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ, with all his saints.
© Faith of God
William Tyndale 1526