The Lord says these things:\par “Bad things will happen to people\par that trust only other people.\par Bad things will happen to people\par that depend on other people for strength.\par Why? Because those people have stopped\par trusting the Lord.\par
Paul went to the cities of Derbe and Lystra. A follower \{of Christ\} named Timothy was there. Timothy’s mother was a Jewish believer. His father was a Greek (not a Jew).
That is why I am sending Timothy to you. He is my son in the Lord. I love Timothy, and he is faithful. He will help you remember the way I live in Christ Jesus. That way of life is what I teach in all the churches everywhere.
It is the same with you people. You heard the true teaching—the Good News {\cf2\super [5]} about your salvation. When you heard that Good News, you believed in Christ. And in Christ, God put his special mark on you by giving you the Holy Spirit {\cf2\super [6]} that he promised.
This is why I sent \{Timothy\} to you, so that I could know about your faith. I sent him when I could not wait any more. I was afraid that the one (the devil) who tempts people might have defeated you with temptations. Then our hard work would have been wasted.
We thank God for you always. And we should do that because that is right for us to do. It is right because your faith is growing more and more. And the love that every one of you has for each other is also growing.
And I suffer now because I tell that Good News. But I am not ashamed. I know the One (Jesus) that I have believed. I am sure that he is able to protect the things that he has trusted me with until that Day. {\cf2\super [8]}