Having ever in mind your work of faith and acts of love and the strength of your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father;

Brothers, when we were bereft of you for a little while (out of sight, not out of mind), we were the more eager to see you. We had a keen longing for you.

So, unable to bear it any longer, I made up my mind to be left behind at Athens all alone;

We continue to pray night and day most earnestly that we may see you face to face, and may complete whatever may be imperfect and lacking in your faith.

Because you have in mind the orders we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

and to seek earnestly to be quiet and mind your own affairs, and work with your own hands, even as we charged you,

And we urge you, brothers, to warn those who are idle [Note: The word "idle" originally meant, "insubordinate, or unruly." See II Thess. 3:6-7, 11], encourage those who are timid, help the [spiritually] weak and be patient with everyone.

Brothers, keep us in mind in your prayers.