Concern for Their Faith

Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, and sent (A)Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, (B)that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that (C)we are appointed to this. (D)For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, (E)lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and (F)our labor might be in vain.

Encouraged by Timothy

(G)But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, (H)as we also to see you— therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress (I)we were comforted concerning you by your faith. For now we live, if you (J)stand fast in the Lord.

For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, 10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face (K)and perfect what is lacking in your faith?

Prayer for the Church

11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, (L)direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord make you increase and (M)abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, 13 so that He may establish (N)your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; and sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: that no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; 10 night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. 12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13 to the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Anxiety in Athens

Therefore, when we could no longer stand it, we thought it was better to be left alone in Athens.(A) And we sent Timothy,(B) our brother and God’s coworker[a] in the gospel of Christ,(C) to strengthen and encourage you concerning your faith, so that no one will be shaken by these persecutions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to[b] this. In fact, when we were with you, we told you previously that we were going to suffer persecution, and as you know, it happened. For 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

But now Timothy has come to us(D) from 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.(E) Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we were encouraged about you through your faith. For now we live, if you stand firm(F) in the Lord. How can we thank God for you in return for all the joy(G) we experience before our God because of you, 10 as we pray very earnestly night and day to see you face to face(H) and to complete what is lacking in your faith?(I)

Prayer for the Church

11 Now may our God and Father(J) Himself, and our Lord Jesus,(K) direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love(L) for one another(M) and for everyone, just as we also do for you. 13 May He make your hearts blameless(N) in holiness(O) before our God and Father at the coming(P) of our Lord(Q) Jesus with all His saints. Amen.[c]

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 3:2 Other mss read servant
  2. 1 Thessalonians 3:3 Or are destined for
  3. 1 Thessalonians 3:13 Other mss omit Amen.

Encouragement of Timothy’s Visit

Therefore (A)when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at (B)Athens alone, and we sent (C)Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, so that no one would be [a]disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that (D)we have been destined for this. For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; [b](E)and so it came to pass, [c]as you know. For this reason, (F)when I could endure it no longer, I also (G)sent to [d]find out about your faith, for fear that (H)the tempter might have tempted you, and (I)our labor would be in vain.

But now that (J)Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of (K)your faith and love, and that you always (L)think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; for now we really live, if you (M)stand firm in the Lord. For (N)what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account, 10 as we (O)night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may (P)see your face, and may (Q)complete what is lacking in your faith?

11 (R)Now may (S)our God and Father (T)Himself and Jesus our Lord (U)direct our way to you; 12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and (V)abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; 13 so that He may (W)establish your hearts (X)without blame in holiness before (Y)our God and Father at the [e](Z)coming of our Lord Jesus (AA)with all His [f]saints.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 3:3 Or deceived
  2. 1 Thessalonians 3:4 Lit just as
  3. 1 Thessalonians 3:4 Lit and
  4. 1 Thessalonians 3:5 Or to know, to ascertain
  5. 1 Thessalonians 3:13 Or presence
  6. 1 Thessalonians 3:13 Or holy ones