1 Thessalonians 3

1 At last our desire to have news of you was so strong that, while we ourselves were waiting at Athens,

Therefore, when we could bear it no longer, we thought it best to stay in Athens alone,

2 We sent Timothy, our brother and God's servant in the good news of Christ, to give you strength and comfort in your faith;

and we sent Timothy, our brother, who is a servant of God and our fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you in your faith,

3 So that no man might be moved by these troubles; because you see that these things are part of God's purpose for us.

so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we have been appointed to afflictions such as these.

4 And when we were with you, we said to you that trouble was before us; and so it came about, as you see.

In fact, when we were with you, we told you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction, and as you well know, it has now happened.

5 For this reason, when I was no longer able to keep quiet, I sent to get news of your faith, fearing that you might be tested by the Evil One and that our work might come to nothing.

For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith, lest somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor had been in vain.

6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has given us good news of your faith and love, and that you have happy memories of us, desiring greatly to see us, even as we do to see you;

But Timothy has now come back to us from you and has brought us good news of your faith and love. He reports that you always think of us with affection, longing to see us, just as we also long to see you.

7 For this cause, brothers, in all our trouble and grief we were comforted about you because of your faith;

Therefore, brothers, in all our affliction and distress, we were encouraged about you because of your faith.

8 For it is life to us if you keep your faith in the Lord unchanged.

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

9 For how great is the praise which we give to God for you, and how great the joy with which we are glad because of you before our God;

How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?

10 Night and day requesting God again and again that we may see your face and make your faith complete.

Night and day we pray earnestly that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith.

11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus make a way for us to come to you;

Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way to you.

12 And the Lord give you increase of love in fullest measure to one another and to all men, even as our love to you;

May the Lord cause you to increase and abound in your love for one another and for all, just as we abound in our love for you.

13 So that your hearts may be strong and free from all sin before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

And may he strengthen your hearts to be blameless in holiness in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all his saints.