1 Thessalonians 3

¹So [when] we could bear [it] no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens.

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

³so that none [of you] would be shaken by these trials. For you know that we are destined for this.

⁴Indeed, when we were with you, we kept warning you that we would suffer persecution; and as you know, it has come to pass.

⁵For this reason, [when] I could bear [it] no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, [for fear that] the tempter {had} somehow tempted you and that our labor might have been in vain.

⁶But just now, Timothy has returned from [ his visit] with the good news about your faith, [your] love, and [the] fond memories you have preserved, longing to see us just as we [long to see] you.

⁷For this reason, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we have been reassured about you, because of your faith.

⁸For now we can go on living, as long as you are standing firm in [the] Lord.

⁹How can we [adequately] thank God for you in return for our great joy over you in [His] presence?

¹⁰Night 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 cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone [else], just as our [love] for you [overflows],

¹³so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness [and] holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.