1 Thessalonians 3

₁Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, ₂and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, ₃that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. ₄For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. ₅For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

₆But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— ₇for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. ₈For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. ₉For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, ₁₀as we pray most earnestly night and day 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 make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, ₁₃so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.