1 Thessalonians 3
New King James Version
Concern for Their Faith
3 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 2 and sent (A)Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 (B)that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that (C)we are appointed to this. 4 (D)For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. 5 For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, (E)lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and (F)our labor might be in vain.
Encouraged by Timothy
6 (G)But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, (H)as we also to see you— 7 therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress (I)we were comforted concerning you by your faith. 8 For now we live, if you (J)stand fast in the Lord.
9 For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, 10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face (K)and perfect what is lacking in your faith?
Prayer for the Church
11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, (L)direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord make you increase and (M)abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, 13 so that He may establish (N)your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
1 Thessalonians 3
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
3 1 Therefore, bearing[a] it no longer, we preferred[b] to be left-behind in Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and a fellow-worker of God in[c] the good-news of Christ, so that he might establish[d] you and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 that no one might be disturbed[e] by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed[f] for this. 4 For even when we were with you, we were telling you beforehand that we were going to be afflicted, just as indeed it happened, and just as you know. 5 For this reason, and I bearing it no longer, I sent Timothy so as to know your faith— that the one tempting had not somehow tempted you and our labor proved-to-be in vain[g].
Timothy Now Returned With Encouraging News About Your Faith And Love. I Am Rejoicing!
6 And Timothy having just-now[h] come to us from you, and having announced-the-good-news to us as to your faith and love, and that you have a good remembrance of us always[i], yearning to see us just as we also you— 7 because of this, brothers, we were encouraged over you in all our distress and affliction, through your faith. 8 Because now we live!— if you are standing-firm in the Lord. 9 For what thanksgiving can we return[j] to God for you for all the joy with which we are-rejoicing[k] because of you before our God?— 10 while praying super-abundantly by night and by day that we may see your face and complete the things lacking from your faith.
May God And Our Lord Jesus Guide Our Ways And Cause Us To Abound In Love
11 Now may our God and Father Himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for everyone (just as we also for you), 13 so that He may establish your hearts so as to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His holy[l] ones. Amen.
Footnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 3:1 Or, enduring.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:1 Or, were well-pleased, were delighted.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:2 That is, in connection with.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:2 Or, stabilize, support, strengthen.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:3 Or, shaken, moved.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:3 Or, destined.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:5 That is, without lasting result.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:6 This occurs in Act 18:5.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:6 Or, us, always yearning.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:9 Or, give back, repay.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:9 Or, are-joyful.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:13 That is, saints; or, angels; or, both.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
