That’s the reason why I’ve sent Timothy to you. He’s like a son to me, and I love him. He’s faithful in serving the Lord. He’ll remind you of the way I live as a servant of Christ Jesus. I myself follow what I teach everywhere in all the churches.
That’s why I’m suffering the way I am. But I’m not ashamed, because I know the one I’ve believed in and I’m certain that he’s able to protect what I’ve given him. I can trust him with it until the day he returns.
We should always thank God for you, brothers and sisters. That’s only right, because your faith is growing more and more and your love for one another is increasing.
You also came to belong to Christ when you heard the message of truth, the good news about how you could be saved. When you believed, God stamped you with an official mark, the Holy Spirit that he promised.
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.