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διο μηκετι στεγοντες ευδοκησαμεν καταλειφθηναι εν αθηναις μονοι

και επεμψαμεν τιμοθεον τον αδελφον ημων και διακονον του θεου εν τω ευαγγελιω του χριστου εις το στηριξαι υμας και παρακαλεσαι υπερ της πιστεως υμων

το μηδενα σαινεσθαι εν ταις θλιψεσιν ταυταις αυτοι γαρ οιδατε οτι εις τουτο κειμεθα

και γαρ οτε προς υμας ημεν προελεγομεν υμιν οτι μελλομεν θλιβεσθαι καθως και εγενετο και οιδατε

δια τουτο καγω μηκετι στεγων επεμψα εις το γνωναι την πιστιν υμων μη πως επειρασεν υμας ο πειραζων και εις κενον γενηται ο κοπος ημων

αρτι δε ελθοντος τιμοθεου προς ημας αφ υμων και ευαγγελισαμενου ημιν την πιστιν και την αγαπην υμων και οτι εχετε μνειαν ημων αγαθην παντοτε επιποθουντες ημας ιδειν καθαπερ και ημεις υμας

δια τουτο παρεκληθημεν αδελφοι εφ υμιν επι παση τη αναγκη και θλιψει ημων δια της υμων πιστεως

οτι νυν ζωμεν εαν υμεις στηκετε εν κυριω

τινα γαρ ευχαριστιαν δυναμεθα τω θεω ανταποδουναι περι υμων επι παση τη χαρα η χαιρομεν δι υμας εμπροσθεν του θεου ημων

10 νυκτος και ημερας υπερ εκπερισσου δεομενοι εις το ιδειν υμων το προσωπον και καταρτισαι τα υστερηματα της πιστεως υμων

11 αυτος δε ο θεος και πατηρ ημων και ο κυριος ημων ιησους κατευθυναι την οδον ημων προς υμας

12 υμας δε ο κυριος πλεονασαι και περισσευσαι τη αγαπη εις αλληλους και εις παντας καθαπερ και ημεις εις υμας

13 εις το στηριξαι υμων τας καρδιας αμεμπτους εν αγιωσυνη εμπροσθεν του θεου και πατρος ημων εν τη παρουσια του κυριου ημων ιησου μετα παντων των αγιων αυτου

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.

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.