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Paul Sends Timothy to Thessalonica

¹ Therefore when we^[a] could bear it no longer, we determined to be left behind in Athens alone, ² and we sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, in order to strengthen and to encourage you about your faith, ³ so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed for this, ⁴ for indeed when we were with you we told you beforehand that we were about to be afflicted, just as indeed it happened, and you know. ⁵ Because of this, I also, when I^[b] could endure it no longer, sent in order to know your faith, lest somehow the tempter tempted you and our labor should be in vain.

Timothy's Positive Report

⁶ But now, because^[c] Timothy has come to us from you and has brought good news to us of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us^[d], desiring to see us just as also we desire to see you, ⁷ because of this, brothers, we have been comforted because of you in all our distress and affliction through your faith, ⁸ because now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord. ⁹ For what thanks can we repay to God concerning you, because of all the joy with which we rejoice because of you before our God, ¹⁰ night and day praying beyond all measure that we may see your face and complete what is lacking in your faith?

¹¹ Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you, ¹² and may the Lord cause you to increase and to abound in love for one another and for all, just as also we do for you, ¹³ so that your hearts may be established blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.^[e]