The First Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians

⭑ Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 3 -

Because of this, willing to wait no longer, it was pleasing to us to remain at Athens, alone.

And we sent Timothy, our brother and a minister of God in the Gospel of Christ, to confirm you and to exhort you, on behalf of your faith,

so that no one would be disturbed during these tribulations. For you yourselves know that we have been appointed to this.

For even while we were with you, we predicted to you that we would suffer tribulations, even as it has happened, and as you know.

For this reason also, I was not willing to wait any longer, and I sent to find out about your faith, lest perhaps he who tempts may have tempted you, and our labor might have been in vain.

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

But then, when Timothy arrived to us from you, he reported to us your faith and charity, and that you keep a good remembrance of us always, desiring to see us, just as we likewise desire to see you.

As a result, we were consoled in you, brothers, in the midst of all our difficulties and tribulations, through your faith.

For we now live so that you may stand firm in the Lord.(a)

For what thanks would we be able to repay to God because of you, for all the joy with which we rejoice over you before our God?

For night and day, ever more abundantly, we are praying that we may see your face, and that we may complete those things that are lacking in your faith.

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

And may the Lord multiply you, and make you abound in your charity toward one another and toward all, just as we also do toward you,

in order to confirm your hearts without blame, in sanctity, before God our Father, unto the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, with all his saints. Amen.

Footnotes

(a)3:8 Paul, as he had previously said, would prefer to be dead and with Christ, but he lives now, only for the sake of those members of the early Church who had been entrusted to his care and guidance.(Conte)

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.