1 Thessalonians 3

1So when we could bear it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind alone in Athens,

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

3so that no one would be unsettled by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.

4In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were going to suffer affliction, and so it has happened, as you know.

5For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

6But now Timothy has just come to us from you and has brought us the good news of your faith and love. He reports that you always have fond memories of us and long to see us, just as we long to see you.

7So in all our distress and affliction, brothers and sisters, we have been encouraged about you through your faith.

8For now we really live, if you are standing firm in the Lord.

9For how can we thank God enough for you, in return for all the joy we have before our God because of you,

10as night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and supply 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 make you increase and overflow in love for one another and for everyone, just as we do for you,

13so that he may strengthen your hearts, blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. Amen.