3:6 But now Timothy has come 1 to us from you and given us the good news of your faith and love and that you always think of us with affection 2 and long to see us just as we also long to see you! 3 3:7 So 4 in all our distress and affliction, we were reassured about you, brothers and sisters, 5 through your faith. 3:8 For now we are alive again, 6 if you stand firm in the Lord. 3:9 For how can we thank God enough for you, 7 for all the joy we feel 8 because of you before our God? 3:10 We pray earnestly night and day to see you in person 9 and make up what may be lacking in your faith.
3:11 Now may God our Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. 3:12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we do for you, 3:13 so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. 10
1 tn Grk “but now Timothy having come,” a subordinate clause leading to the main clause of v. 7.
2 tn Grk “you have a good remembrance of us always.”
3 tn Grk “just as also we you.”
4 tn Or “for this reason.”
5 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.
6 tn Grk “because now we live,” in comparison with his feelings of dread in not knowing how they were doing (cf. 2:17-3:5).
7 tn Grk “what thanks can we render to God about you.”
8 tn Grk “all the joy with which we rejoice.”
9 tn Grk “to see your face.”
10 tc ‡ Important and early witnesses (א* A D* 81 629 lat) have ἀμήν (amhn, “amen”) at the end of this benediction, while the majority of