1 Thessalonians 3

Chapter 3

Encouragement of Timothy’s Visit

¹Therefore ^awhen we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at ^bAthens alone,

²and we sent ^aTimothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith,

³so that no one would be ¹disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that ^awe have been destined for this.

⁴For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; ^1aand so it came to pass, ²as you know.

⁵For this reason, ^awhen I could endure it no longer, I also ^bsent to ¹find out about your faith, for fear that ^cthe tempter might have tempted you, and ^dour labor would be in vain.

⁶But now that ^aTimothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of ^byour faith and love, and that you always ^cthink kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you,

⁷for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith;

⁸for now we really live, if you ^astand firm in the Lord.

⁹For ^awhat thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account,

¹⁰as we ^anight and day keep praying most earnestly that we may ^bsee your face, and may ^ccomplete what is lacking in your faith?

^11aNow may ^bour God and Father ^cHimself and Jesus our Lord ^ddirect our way to you;

¹²and may the Lord cause you to increase and ^aabound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;

¹³so that He may ^aestablish your hearts ^bwithout blame in holiness before ^cour God and Father at the ^1dcoming of our Lord Jesus ^ewith all His ²saints.