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1 Thessalonians 3

Unable to bear the silence, Paul stays behind alone in Athens and sends Timothy to steady the Thessalonians' faith under affliction (v.1-3). The chapter is essentially Paul narrating his own anxiety and the relief that broke it. Timothy has "just now come" back with good news of their faith and love (v.6), and the report revives Paul: "now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord" (v.8). The emotional pivot of the whole letter sits here.

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1 Thessalonians 3 (WEB)

1
Therefore when we couldn’t stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone,
2
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,
3
that no one would be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task.
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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.
5
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.
6
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.
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For this cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith.
8
For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.
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For what thanksgiving can we give again to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God,
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night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
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Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.
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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,
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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.

1 Tesalonicenses 3 (RV1909)

1
POR lo cual, no pudiendo esperar más, acordamos quedarnos solos en Atenas,
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Y enviamos á Timoteo, nuestro hermano, y ministro de Dios, y colaborador nuestro en el evangelio de Cristo, á confirmaros y exhortaros en vuestra fe,
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Para que nadie se conmueva por estas tribulaciones; porque vosotros sabéis que nosotros somos puestos para esto.
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Que aun estando con vosotros, os predecíamos que habíamos de pasar tribulaciones, como ha acontecido y sabéis.
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Por lo cual, también yo, no esperando más, he enviado á reconocer vuestra fe, no sea que os haya tentado el tentador, y que nuestro trabajo haya sido en vano.
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Empero volviendo de vosotros á nosotros Timoteo, y haciéndonos saber vuestra fe y caridad, y que siempre tenéis buena memoria de nosotros, deseando vernos, como también nosotros á vosotros,
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En ello, hermanos, recibimos consolación de vosotros en toda nuestra necesidad y aflicción por causa de vuestra fe:
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Porque ahora vivimos, si vosotros estáis firmes en el Señor.
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Por lo cual, ¿qué hacimiento de gracias podremos dar á Dios por vosotros, por todo el gozo con que nos gozamos á causa de vosotros delante de nuestro Dios,
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Orando de noche y de día con grande instancia, que veamos vuestro rostro, y que cumplamos lo que falta á vuestra fe?
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Mas el mismo Dios y Padre nuestro, y el Señor nuestro Jesucristo, encamine nuestro viaje á vosotros.
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Y á vosotros multiplique el Señor, y haga abundar el amor entre vosotros, y para con todos, como es también de nosotros para con vosotros;
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Para que sean confirmados vuestros corazones en santidad, irreprensibles delante de Dios y nuestro Padre, para la venida de nuestro Señor Jesucristo con todos sus santos.

From dread to a prayer

Paul names his fear plainly, that "the tempter" might have undone his labor (v.5). Affliction was not a surprise; he had warned them it was coming (v.4). This honesty about pastoral worry is rare and unguarded.

The chapter closes by turning relief into petition (v.11-13): that God direct his path back to them, that their love overflow, and that their hearts be "blameless in holiness" at Christ's coming, the same horizon that will dominate chapters 4 and 5.