That’s why, when I couldn’t stand it any longer, I sent someone to find out about your faith. I was afraid that Satan had tempted you in some way and that our work among you had been useless.
Then we won’t be babies in the faith anymore. We won’t be like ships tossed around by the waves and blown here and there by every new teaching. We won’t be fooled by the tricks that people use to hide their real plans.
I went because God showed me that he wanted me to go. I met privately with those who are respected as leaders. I presented to them the good news that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure that it wasn’t useless for me to keep presenting the good news that way.
Don’t deprive each other. You could agree not to have sexual relations for a while if you really needed time to pray. But after that, you should go back to having sexual relations. Otherwise, Satan will tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
But just now Timothy has come to us from you, and he has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have happy memories of us and that you long to see us just as we long to see you.
Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back to all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord. Let’s visit the believers there and see how they are doing.”