OET interlinear 1 TH 3:9

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τίνα Γάρ εὐχαριστίαν δυνάμεθα τῷ Θεῷ ἀνταποδοῦναι περί ὑμῶν ἐπί πάσῃ τῇ χαρᾷ ᾗ χαίρομεν διʼ ὑμᾶς ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν)

Here, the word For introduces further information about how Paul and his fellow workers responded to the good news about the Thessalonians. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces more information, or you could leave For untranslated. Alternate translation: [Indeed,] or [Further,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

δυνάμεθα & χαίρομεν & ἡμῶν

˱we˲_˓are˒_being_able & ˱we˲_˓are˒_rejoicing & ˱of˲_us

Here, the word we in the phrases are we able and we rejoice only includes Paul and his fellow workers. It does not include the Thessalonians. However, the word our in the phrase our God does include the Thessalonians. Make sure that this is clear if your language marks these distinctions.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τίνα & εὐχαριστίαν δυνάμεθα τῷ Θεῷ ἀνταποδοῦναι

what & thanksgiving ˱we˲_˓are˒_being_able ˱to˲_the ˱to˲_God ˓to˒_repay

Here Paul speaks as if he and his fellow workers owe God a debt that they can pay back by giving thanks. He means that the appropriate response to God’s work among the Thessalonians is to give thanks to God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [how can we be thankful enough to God] or [what kind of thanksgiving could we give to God]

Note 4 topic: translate-textvariants

τῷ Θεῷ & τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν

˱to˲_the ˱to˲_God & the God ˱of˲_us

Many ancient manuscripts read to God and our God. The ULT follows that reading. A few ancient manuscripts read “to the Lord” and “our Lord.” If a translation of the Bible exists in your region, you may wish to use the reading that it uses. If a translation of the Bible does not exist in your region, you may wish to use the reading of the ULT.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐπὶ πάσῃ τῇ χαρᾷ ᾗ χαίρομεν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τίνα Γάρ εὐχαριστίαν δυνάμεθα τῷ Θεῷ ἀνταποδοῦναι περί ὑμῶν ἐπί πάσῃ τῇ χαρᾷ ᾗ χαίρομεν διʼ ὑμᾶς ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of joy, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [for how joyfully we rejoice]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

ἐπὶ πάσῃ τῇ χαρᾷ ᾗ χαίρομεν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τίνα Γάρ εὐχαριστίαν δυνάμεθα τῷ Θεῷ ἀνταποδοῦναι περί ὑμῶν ἐπί πάσῃ τῇ χαρᾷ ᾗ χαίρομεν διʼ ὑμᾶς ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν)

Here Paul uses both the word joy and the word rejoice to emphasize how much joy he and his fellow workers have. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: [for how greatly we rejoice] or [for how much joy we experience]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν

before the God ˱of˲_us

Here, the phrase before our God means that Paul and his fellow workers rejoice in God’s presence. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [in the presence of our God] or [when we approach God]