﻿1 Thessalonians.
Chapter 3.
Therefore, when we could bear it no longer, we thought it best to be left alone in Athens, 
and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you concerning your faith, 
so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 
Indeed, when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we would suffer affliction, just as it happened and as you know. 
For this reason, when I too could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, fearing that the tempter might have tempted you and our labor might prove to be in vain. 
But now Timothy has come to us from you and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always remember us kindly, longing to see us just as we long to see you. 
For this reason, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith, 
for now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord. 
For what thanks can we give back to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice because of you before our God, 
as night and day we pray most earnestly to see your faces and complete what is lacking in your faith? 
May our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you. 
May the Lord make you increase and overflow in love for one another and for everyone, just as we do for you, 
so that he may strengthen your hearts, blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. 
