A. Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
B. 2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ,
C. to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
D. 3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. 4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
A’. 5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
B’. 6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us,
C’. and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
D’. 7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: 8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
Jerry brownell ([email protected]) posted a comment relating to the possibility of multiple levels of structure that is of relevance to this section of scripture:
“In 1 Thess 3:2-10 we find five repetitions of the phrase Your-Faith in a rather obvious Chiasm. This is underneath the others that are listed elsewhere.The same seems to be true of the ten mentions of the sufferings and chains and oppositions in the first 3 chapters. “