Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
1 Thessalonians 3
Timothy Is Sent to Strengthen You
Therefore, when we could no longer bear it, we thought it best to be left alone in Athens, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the good news of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you concerning your trust, so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. Indeed, when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were going to suffer affliction, and it happened just as you know. For this reason, when I could no longer bear it, I sent to learn about your trust, fearing that somehow the tempter had tested you and our labor might have been in vain.
Timothy Brings Good News about Your Trust and Love
But Timothy has just now come to us from you and brought us good news about your trust and love. He told us that you always remember us warmly and long to see us, just as we long to see you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and affliction we were encouraged about you through your trust, because now we truly live, if you stand firm in the Lord. For what thanks can we return to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God because of you? Night and day we pray very earnestly to see you face to face and complete what is lacking in your trust.
A Prayer for Love and Holiness
Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And 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 holy ones. Amen.