For you know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you has not been ineffective (fruitless, in vain),

You are witnesses, and so is God, how unworldly and just and blameless was our behavior toward you who believe [in our Lord Jesus Christ].

For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again [wanted to come], but Satan hindered us.

For this reason, when I could no longer endure the suspense, I sent someone to find out about your faith [how you were holding up under pressure], for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our work [among you] would prove to be ineffective.