Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
Parallel translations
- WEB longing to see you, remembering your tears, that I may be filled with joy;
- BSB Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.
- NKJV greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy,
- NASB longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy.
- NLT I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul longs to see Timothy again, recalling his tears at their parting, so that reunion would bring him joy. Genuine affection binds these gospel partners.
Overview
The memory of Timothy's tears, likely from a previous separation, reveals the depth of their relationship. Paul, facing death, yearns for the comfort of his friend's presence. Such love between believers reflects the bonds the gospel creates and shows that godly ministry is deeply personal, not merely official.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- 2 Tim 4:9Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:
- 1 Th 2:17But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
- Phil 1:8For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
- 2 Tim 4:21Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
- John 16:24Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
- John 16:22And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
- Rev 21:4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
- Acts 20:37–38And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,
- Acts 20:31Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
- Jer 31:13Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
- Rom 15:30–32Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;
- Isa 61:3To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
- 1 Jn 1:4And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
- Rev 7:17For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
- Rom 1:11For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
- Acts 20:19Serving the LORD with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
- Ps 126:5They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
- Phil 2:26For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Christ Jesus 'abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel' — the risen Lord whose word and kingdom endure to the end.
How 2 Timothy 1:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.