帖撒羅尼迦前書 3
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
3 最後我們無法再忍受思念之苦，就決定我們這些人留在雅典， 2 派提摩太去你們那裡。他在傳揚基督福音的事工上是我們的弟兄、上帝的同工。他去是要鼓勵你們，使你們信心堅定， 3 免得有人因遭受這些患難而動搖，因為你們知道我們必遭受患難。 4 我們在你們那裡時曾預先告訴過你們，我們會遭遇患難，你們知道後來果然如此。 5 因此，我無法再等下去了，就派提摩太到你們那裡看看你們的信心如何，免得那誘惑人的誘惑了你們，使我們的心血都白費了。
喜聞佳訊
6 現在，提摩太剛從你們那裡回來，把有關你們信心和愛心的好消息告訴了我們。他說你們常常思念我們，很想見到我們，就像我們渴望見到你們一樣。 7 弟兄姊妹，你們的信心使我們在萬般困苦和患難中得到了激勵。 8 得知你們靠著主堅定不移，我們現在感到振奮。 9 你們使我們在上帝面前感到非常喜樂，我們該怎樣為你們感謝上帝呢！ 10 我們晝夜懇切禱告，渴望能見到你們，彌補你們信心的不足之處。
11 願我們的父上帝和我們的主耶穌引領我們到你們那裡。 12 願主使你們彼此之間的愛和對他人的愛一齊增長，甚至滿溢出來，就像我們愛你們一樣。 13 這樣，當我們的主耶穌帶著祂的眾聖徒再來時，你們可以在我們的父上帝面前心裡剛強，完全聖潔，無可指責。
1 Thessalonians 3
King James Version
3 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
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.
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.
6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, 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:
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.
9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.
12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
1 Thessalonians 3
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 3
Standing Firm in the Lord.[a] 1 Therefore, when we[b] could not stand it any longer, we decided to remain alone in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, our brother and coworker for God[c] in the gospel of Christ, to confirm and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one might be troubled by these hardships.
You yourselves realize that we were destined to endure such afflictions. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we warned you beforehand that we could suffer persecution, and that is what has now come to pass, as you are well aware. 5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn of your faith, lest the tempter might have put you to the test and all our labor might have been for naught.
6 But Timothy has just now returned to us from you and brought us the joyful news of your faith and love. He tells us that you always speak fondly of us and long to see us just as much as we long to see you.[d] 7 For this reason, brethren, in the midst of our distress and hardship we have been reassured by your faith. 8 For now we live inasmuch as you stand firm in the Lord.
Plea for Growth in Holiness. 9 How can we possibly give thanks to God for all the joy we feel in the presence of our God because of you? 10 We pray fervently day and night that we will be allowed to see you face to face once again and complete whatever may be lacking in your faith.
11 May our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus prepare the way to you. 12 May the Lord[e] cause your love to increase and overflow for one another and for everyone else, just as our love does for you. 13 May he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may stand blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.[f] [Amen.]
Footnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 3:1 Persecution has ravaged the small community. Sent to these new Christians, Timothy reassures Paul. In the Apostle’s thanksgiving and in his prayer for the continual progress of the community, we divine his deep attachment for Christians that he has evangelized. The missionary’s action must be pervaded by prayer—both private and liturgical.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:1 We: in this First Letter Paul uses the first person plural extensively. That is not true of the later letters.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:2 Coworker for God: see also 1 Cor 3:9. Gospel of Christ: see notes on 1 Thes 1:5 and Mk 1:1. Confirm: literally, “build you up.”
- 1 Thessalonians 3:6 Paul is rendered joyful because of their “faith” (i.e., their right attitude toward God), their “love” (i.e., their right attitude toward others), and their longing “to see” him (i.e., their right attitude toward the Apostle).
- 1 Thessalonians 3:12 Lord: in Paul’s usage this word is usually applied to Jesus, not the Father (see, e.g., Rom 10:9; 1 Cor 1:2; Phil 2:11).
- 1 Thessalonians 3:13 Holy ones: usually translated as “saints,” referring to all Christians.
