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1 Thessalonians 3

1So, when we could bear it no longer, we decided to be left alone in Athens 2and sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the good news of Christ, to strengthen you and encourage you in your faith, 3so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 4Indeed, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we would suffer affliction, just as it happened, as you know. 5For this reason I too, when I could bear it no longer, sent to learn about your faith, fearing that the tempter might have tempted you and our labor might prove to be in vain.

6But now Timothy has come to us from you and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always remember us kindly, longing to see us just as we long to see you. 7Because of this, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been encouraged about you through your faith. 8For now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord! 9For what thanks can we give back to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice because of you before our God, 10as we plead most earnestly night and day to see your face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

11May our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you. 12And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for everyone, just as we do for you, 13to strengthen your hearts, blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.

Translation notes 4

3:1–5 — We and I. The letter shifts from “we” to “I” in verse 5. Its account is retained without adding a travel reconstruction from Acts. “Appointed to this” refers to affliction, not to being shaken from faith.

3:2 — God's fellow worker. The Greek base has this striking expression. Other witnesses read “God's servant” or combine servant and fellow-worker wording. Even with the base text, “a fellow worker belonging to God” is possible alongside “one working with God.”

3:6–10 — Encouragement and faith. Timothy's report is called “good news,” using the same word family as the proclamation. Their faith encourages the senders, while the prayer still seeks to supply what that faith lacks. “Now we live” vividly expresses renewed strength, not a literal return from death.

3:13 — Holy ones. This may refer to angels accompanying the Lord, to his people, or to both. “Holy ones” preserves the wording without settling their identity. The base has no “Amen” after this prayer; another early reading includes it.