1Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;2And 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:3That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.4For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.5For 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.6But 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:7Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:8For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.9For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;10Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?11Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.12And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:13To 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.
1 Thessalonians 3
New International Reader’s Version
1We couldn’t wait any longer. So we thought it was best to be left by ourselves in Athens.2We sent our brother Timothy to give you strength and hope in your faith. He works together with us in God’s service to spread the good news about Christ.3We sent him so that no one would be upset by times of testing. You know very well that we have to go through times of testing.4In fact, when we were with you, here is what we kept telling you. We were telling you that our enemies would make us suffer. As you know very well, it has turned out that way.5That’s the reason I sent someone to find out about your faith. I couldn’t wait any longer. I was afraid that Satan had tempted you in some way. Then our work among you would have been useless.
Timothy brings a good report
6But Timothy has come to us from you just now. He has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have happy memories of us. He has also said that you desire to see us, just as we desire to see you.7Brothers and sisters, in all our trouble and suffering your faith encouraged us.8Now we really live, because you are standing firm in the Lord.9How can we thank God enough for you? We thank God because of all the joy we have in his presence. We have this joy because of you.10Night and day we pray very hard that we will see you again. We want to give you what is missing in your faith.11Now may a way be opened up for us to come to you. May our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus do this.12May the Lord make your love grow. May it be like a rising flood. May your love for one another increase. May it also increase for everyone else. May it be just like our love for you.13May the Lord give you strength in your hearts. Then you will be holy and without blame in the sight of our God and Father. May that be true when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.