1 Thessalonians 3

Anxiety in Athens

3Therefore, when we could no longer stand it, we thought it was better to be left alone in Athens. ^t2And we sent Timothy, ^uour brother and God’s coworker ^vin the gospel of Christ, ^wto strengthen and encourage you concerning your faith, ³so that no one will be shaken by these persecutions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to ^xthis. ⁴In fact, when we were with you, we told you previously that we were going to suffer persecution, and as you know, it happened. ⁵For this reason, when I could no longer stand it, I also sent him to find out about your faith, fearing that the tempter had tempted you and that our labor might be for nothing.

Encouraged by Timothy

⁶But now Timothy has come to us ^yfrom you and brought us good news about your faith and love and reported that you always have good memories of us, wanting to see us, as we also want to see you. ^z7Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we were encouraged about you through your faith. ⁸For now we live, if you stand firm ^ain the Lord. ⁹How can we thank God for you in return for all the joy ^bwe experience before our God because of you, ¹⁰as we pray very earnestly night and day to see you face to face ^cand to complete what is lacking in your faith? ^d

Prayer for the Church

¹¹Now may our God and Father ^eHimself, and our Lord Jesus, ^fdirect our way to you. ¹²And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love ^gfor one another ^hand for everyone, just as we also do for you. ¹³May He make your hearts blameless ⁱin holiness ^jbefore our God and Father at the coming ^kof our Lord ^lJesus with all His saints. Amen. ^m