Encouragement of Timothy’s Visit

Therefore, (A)when we could no longer endure it, we thought it best to be left behind, alone at (B)Athens, and we sent (C)Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you for the benefit of 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 even when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; [b](E)and so it happened, [c]as you know. For this reason, (F)when I could no longer endure it, 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 for nothing.

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, brothers and sisters, 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 give to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice because of you before our God, 10 as we (O)keep praying most earnestly night and day that we may (P)see your faces, and may (Q)complete what is lacking in your faith?

11 (R)Now may (S)our God and Father (T)Himself, and our Lord Jesus, (U)direct our way to you; 12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and (V)overflow 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)blameless 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 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people

Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing (A)to be left behind at Athens alone, and we (B)sent Timothy, (C)our brother and God's coworker[a] in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that (D)we are destined for this. For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, (E)just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. For this reason, (F)when I could bear it no longer, (G)I sent to learn about your faith, (H)for fear that somehow (I)the tempter had tempted you and (J)our labor would be in vain.

Timothy's Encouraging Report

But (K)now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of (L)your faith and love and reported (M)that you always remember us kindly and (N)long to see us, as we long to see you— for this reason, brothers,[b] in all our distress and affliction (O)we have been comforted about you through your faith. For now we live, if you (P)are standing fast in the Lord. For (Q)what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly (R)night and day (S)that we may see you face to face and (T)supply what is lacking in your faith?

11 Now may (U)our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, (V)direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord (W)make you increase and abound in love (X)for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may (Y)establish your hearts blameless in holiness before (Z)our God and Father, at (AA)the coming of our Lord Jesus (AB)with all his saints.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 3:2 Some manuscripts servant
  2. 1 Thessalonians 3:7 Or brothers and sisters

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.