The First Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 3 -

So when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens.

We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God

(a)

in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,

so that none of you would be shaken by these trials. For you know that we are destined for this.

Indeed, when we were with you, we kept warning you that we would suffer persecution; and as you know, it has come to pass.

For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted you and caused our labor to be in vain.

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

But just now, Timothy has returned from his visit with the good news about your faith, your love, and the fond memories you have preserved, longing to see us just as we long to see you.

For this reason, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we have been reassured about you, because of your faith.

For now we can go on living, as long as you are standing firm in the Lord.

How can we adequately thank God for you in return for our great joy over you in His presence?

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

Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.

And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows,

so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.

Footnotes

(a)3:2 Or our brother and God’s fellow worker; NE, WH, BYZ, and TR our brother and minister of God

Therefore when we couldn’t stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone,

and sent Timothy, our brother and God’s servant in the Good News of Christ, to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith,

that no one would be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task.

For most certainly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even as it happened, and you know.

For this cause I also, when I couldn’t stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor would have been in vain.

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

But Timothy has just now come to us from you, and brought us glad news of your faith and love, and that you have good memories of us always, longing to see us, even as we also long to see you.

For this cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith.

For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.

For what thanksgiving can we render again to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God,

night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

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

May the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all men, even as we also do toward you,

to the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.