First Letter to the Thessalonians 3

¹ When we could not bear the waiting any longer, we decided it would be best to be left without a companion at Athens, and

² sent our brother Timothy, who is God’s helper in spreading the Good News of Christ, to keep you firm and strong in the faith

³ and prevent any of you from being unsettled by the present troubles. As you know, these are bound to come our way:

⁴ when we were with you, we warned you that we must expect to have persecutions to bear, and that is what has happened now, as you have found out.

⁵ That is why, when I could not stand waiting any longer, I sent to assure myself of your faith: I was afraid the Tempter[*a] might have tried you too hard, and all our work might have been wasted.

⁶ However, Timothy is now back from you and he has given us good news of your faith and your love, telling us that you always remember us with pleasure and want to see us quite as much as we want to see you.

⁷ And so, brothers, your faith has been a great comfort to us in the middle of our own troubles and sorrows;

⁸ now we can breathe again, as you are still holding firm in the Lord.

⁹ How can we thank God enough for you, for all the joy we feel before our God on your account?

¹⁰ We are earnestly praying night and day to be able to see you face to face again and make up any shortcomings in your faith.

¹¹ May God our Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, make it easy for us to come to you.

¹² May the Lord be generous in increasing your love and make you love one another and the whole human race as much as we love you.

¹³ And may he so confirm your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all his saints.