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

6[†]But  m now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of  n your faith and love and reported  o that you always remember us kindly and  p long to see us, as we long to see you— 7[†]for this reason, brothers, [2] in all our distress and affliction  q we have been comforted about you through your faith. 8For now we live, if you  r are standing fast in the Lord. 9[†]For  s 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  t night and day  u that we may see you face to face and  v supply what is lacking in your faith?

11[†]Now may  w our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus,  x direct our way to you, 12and may the Lord  y make you increase and abound in love  z for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13[†]so that he may  a establish your hearts blameless in holiness before  w our God and Father, at  b the coming of our Lord Jesus  c with all his saints.