1 Thessalonians 3

Paul Sends Timothy to Thessalonica

3Therefore when we^* could bear it no longer, we determined to be left behind in Athens alone, ²and we sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, in order to strengthen and to encourage you about your faith, ³so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed for this, ⁴for indeed when we were with you we told you beforehand that we were about to be afflicted, just as indeed it happened, and you know. ⁵Because of this, I also, when I^* could endure it no longer, sent in order to know your faith, lest somehow the tempter tempted you and our labor should be in vain.

Timothy’s Positive Report

⁶But now, because^* Timothy has come to us from you and has brought good news to us of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us^a, desiring to see us just as also we desire to see you, ⁷because of this, brothers, we have been comforted because of you in all our distress and affliction through your faith, ⁸because now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord. ⁹For what thanks can we repay to God concerning you, because of all the joy with which we rejoice because of you before our God, ¹⁰night and day praying beyond all measure that we may see your face and complete what is lacking in your faith?

¹¹Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you, ¹²and may the Lord cause you to increase and to abound in love for one another and for all, just as also we do for you, ¹³so that your hearts may be established blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.^b