1 Thessalonians 3

Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone,

We couldn’t wait any longer. So we thought it was best to be left by ourselves in Athens.

and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith,

We sent our brother Timothy to give you strength and hope in your faith. He works together with us in God’s service to spread the good news about Christ.

so that no one would be ^[a]disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this.

We sent him so that no one would be upset by times of testing. You know very well that we have to go through times of testing.

For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; ^[b]and so it came to pass, ^[c]as you know.

In fact, when we were with you, here is what we kept telling you. We were telling you that our enemies would make us suffer. As you know very well, it has turned out that way.

For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to ^[d]find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain.

That’s the reason I sent someone to find out about your faith. I couldn’t wait any longer. I was afraid that Satan had tempted you in some way. Then our work among you would have been useless.

Timothy Brings a Good Report

But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you,

But Timothy has come to us from you just now. He has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have happy memories of us. He has also said that you desire to see us, just as we desire to see you.

for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith;

Brothers and sisters, in all our trouble and suffering your faith encouraged us.

for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.

Now we really live, because you are standing firm in the Lord.

For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account,

How can we thank God enough for you? We thank God because of all the joy we have in his presence. We have this joy because of you.

as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?

Night and day we pray very hard that we will see you again. We want to give you what is missing in your faith.

Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you;

Now may a way be opened up for us to come to you. May our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus do this.

and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;

May the Lord make your love grow. May it be like a rising flood. May your love for one another increase. May it also increase for everyone else. May it be just like our love for you.

so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the ^[e]coming of our Lord Jesus with all His ^[f]saints.

May the Lord give you strength in your hearts. Then you will be holy and without blame in the sight of our God and Father. May that be true when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.