Paul traveled on to Derbe and Lystra, where a Christian named Timothy lived. His mother, who was also a Christian, was Jewish, but his father was a Greek.

At once the believers sent Paul away to the coast; but both Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea.

The men who were taking Paul went with him as far as Athens and then returned to Berea with instructions from Paul that Silas and Timothy should join him as soon as possible.

When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul gave his whole time to preaching the message, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah.

Timothy, my fellow worker, sends you his greetings; and so do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, fellow Jews.

For this purpose I am sending to you Timothy, who is my own dear and faithful son in the Christian life. He will remind you of the principles which I follow in the new life in union with Christ Jesus and which I teach in all the churches everywhere.

If Timothy comes your way, be sure to make him feel welcome among you, because he is working for the Lord, just as I am.

No one should look down on him, but you must help him continue his trip in peace, so that he will come back to me; for I am expecting him back with the believers.

Now, about brother Apollos. I have often encouraged him to visit you with the other believers, but he is not completely convinced that he should go at this time. When he gets the chance, however, he will go.

For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was preached among you by Silas, Timothy, and myself, is not one who is "Yes" and "No." On the contrary, he is God's "Yes";

But I was deeply worried, because I could not find our brother Titus. So I said good-bye to the people there and went on to Macedonia.

As for Titus, he is my partner and works with me to help you; as for the other brothers who are going with him, they represent the churches and bring glory to Christ.

Tychicus, our dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord's work, will give you all the news about me, so that you may know how I am getting along.

If it is the Lord's will, I hope that I will be able to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be encouraged by news about you.

Everyone else is concerned only with their own affairs, not with the cause of Jesus Christ.

So I hope to send him to you as soon as I know how things are going to turn out for me.

I have thought it necessary to send to you our brother Epaphroditus, who has worked and fought by my side and who has served as your messenger in helping me.

You learned of God's grace from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is Christ's faithful worker on our behalf.

With him goes Onesimus, that dear and faithful friend, who belongs to your group. They will tell you everything that is happening here.

Greetings from Epaphras, another member of your group and a servant of Christ Jesus. He always prays fervently for you, asking God to make you stand firm, as mature and fully convinced Christians, in complete obedience to God's will.

In this way he will strengthen you, and you will be perfect and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all who belong to him.

They strengthened the believers and encouraged them to remain true to the faith. "We must pass through many troubles to enter the Kingdom of God," they taught.

In each church they appointed elders, and with prayers and fasting they commended them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

So the churches were made stronger in the faith and grew in numbers every day.

That is why I am sending him to you---to tell you how all of us are getting along and to encourage you.

I am sure of this, and so I know that I will stay. I will stay on with you all, to add to your progress and joy in the faith,