Paul sent Timothy to Thessalonica
3
📚So when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left alone at Athens✭, 2 📚and sent Timothy✭, our brother and servant of God, and our fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage✭ you concerning your faith, 3 📚that no one would be upset by these troubles✭. For you know that we are appointed to this✭. 4 📚✭For in fact, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we would experience tribulation – even as it came about, as you know. 5 📚For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to find out about your faith, fearing✭ that perhaps by some means the tempter✭ had tempted you, and our labour might be in vain✭.6 📚But now Timothy has come from you to us, and brought us good news about your faith and love✭, and reported that you always have good memories of us, and greatly desire to see us, even as we desire to see you.
Paul’s encouragement and desire to visit them
7 📚So, brethren, we were encouraged about you in all our trouble and distress, because of your faith✭. 8 📚For now we live✭, since you stand firm✭ in the Lord. 9 📚For what thanks✭ can we offer to God again for you, for all the joy✭ we experience for your sakes in the presence of our God, 10 📚night and day praying✭ exceedingly that we might see your face, and fill up that which is lacking in your faith✭?
11 📚Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you✭.
Paul’s prayer for them
12 📚And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love✭ toward each other, and toward all men, just as we do toward you, 13 📚to the end that he may establish your hearts✭ unblamable in holiness✭ in the presence of our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints✭.