1 Thessalonians 3

So then, because we {felt like we} could not possibly wait any longer, we decided that just Silas and I should stay behind in the city of Athens.

Then, Silas and I had Timothy visit you. {He is} our fellow believer and serves God by {proclaiming} the good news about the Messiah. {We had him visit you} so that he could support and encourage you as you trust {in God}.

That way, when people hurt {you}, you do not become unsure {as you trust in God}. In fact, you are well aware that {God} already decided that people would hurt us {believers}. \*

{You are well aware of that} because, while we {apostles} were visiting you, we warned you ahead of time that others were about to hurt us {believers}. You are well aware that this is exactly what occurred.

Because {others have hurt us believers}, and because I {felt like I} could not possibly wait any longer, I had {Timothy} visit you. {I wanted} to learn if you were still trusting {in God}. {I was concerned that} the devil might have {succeeded in} tempting you {to stop trusting in God}. {If that were true,} how hard we had worked among you would have accomplished nothing! \*

However, Timothy recently returned to Silas and me after visiting you. He gave us good news about how much you trust {God} and love {each other}. {He told us} that whenever you think about us, it makes you happy. {He also told us that} you desire to be with us, just as we {desire to be with} you.

Fellow believers, because of what {Timothy told us}, although people were persecuting and hurting us often, God used how you continue to trust {in him} to encourage us that you {are doing well}. \*

Indeed, since you continue {to trust} in the Lord {Jesus}, we feel much better now!

In fact, we cannot thank God enough for you! We are extremely happy about you {whenever we pray} to our God.

All day long we urgently ask {God} to allow us to visit you and help you increase how much you trust {in God}. \*

{We pray that} God our Father and our Lord Jesus will enable us to visit you {again}!

{We pray that} the Lord {Jesus} will cause you always to love each other and all people more and more. That is how we love you!

{We pray those things} so that God will make you spiritually strong. {That way,} God our Father will consider you to be faultlessly pure. {He will do that} when our Lord Jesus returns to this world, {bringing} with him everyone who belongs to him. May it be so! \*