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1 Thessalonians 3

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Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone;
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and sent Timothy, our brother and God’s minister in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith; ​
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that no man be moved by these afflictions; for yourselves know that hereunto we are appointed. ​
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For verily, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
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For this cause I also, when I could no longer forbear, sent that I might know your faith, lest by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor should be in vain. ​

Joy Over Timothy's Good Report 6–10

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But when Timothy came even now unto us from you, and brought us glad tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, even as we also to see you; ​
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for this cause, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith:
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for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. ​
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For what thanksgiving can we render again unto God for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
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night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith? ​

A Prayer for Their Sanctification 11–13

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Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way unto you:
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and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we also do toward you; ​
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to the end he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. ​

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for 1 Thessalonians 3

Verse 2

our brother, and minister of God — Timotheus is 'minister' (diakonos) and 'fellowlabourer' (synergos), the word of 1 Cor 3:9, 'labourers together with God'. He is sent 'to establish' (sterizo) and 'to comfort' (parakaleo); the first verb returns as 'stablish' in v.13. Paul had been 'left at Athens alone' (v.1), and Timotheus later rejoined him (Acts 18:5).

Verse 3

moved by these afflictions — Saino, 'moved', occurs only here in the New Testament. 'Afflictions' is thlipsis, the pressure under which they had received the word (1:6). 'Appointed' is keimai, to be set, as Paul says of himself, 'I am set for the defence of the gospel' (Phil 1:17). In v.4 he reminds them he had said beforehand 'that we should suffer tribulation'.

Verse 5

the tempter — Peirazo, to test or tempt, is used as a title: 'when the tempter came to him' (Matt 4:3). Paul had written that 'Satan hindered us' (2:18). 'Forbear' (stego) is to bear up under, as in 'Beareth all things' (1 Cor 13:7). 'In vain' is kenos, empty, as in Phil 2:16, 'that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain'.

Verse 6

good tidings of your faith and charity — 'Brought… good tidings' is euangelizo, the verb of preaching the gospel, here used of Timotheus's report. It names 'faith and charity' (pistis, agape), two of the three of 1:3: 'work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope'. It reached Paul when 'Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia' (Acts 18:5).

Verse 8

now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord — Steko, to stand firm, is the verb of Phil 4:1, 'so stand fast in the Lord', and 1 Cor 16:13, 'stand fast in the faith'. 'Now we live' (zao) follows the good news of v.6 and depends on their standing. Paul writes in the same vein, 'we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong' (2 Cor 13:9).

Verse 10

night and day praying exceedingly — 'Exceedingly' joins the three elements of 'exceeding abundantly' in Eph 3:20. 'Perfect' is katartizo, to fit or put in order, the word for 'mending their nets' (Matt 4:21). 'That which is lacking' is hysterema, what is behind or wanting, the word of 'that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ' (Col 1:24).

Verse 12

increase and abound — Pleonazo and perisseuo are two verbs of more and more; Paul urges 'abound more and more' (4:1) and 'increase more and more' (4:10), both from perisseuo, in a love already there. Its reach is 'one toward another, and toward all men', as in 'let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith' (Gal 6:10).

Verse 13

unblameable in holiness — Amemptos is blameless; hagiosune, holiness, occurs only here, in Rom 1:4 and in 2 Cor 7:1. The coming (parousia) is named in chapters 2 to 5 of this letter (2:19; 3:13; 4:15; 5:23). 'With all his saints' (hagios) echoes Zech 14:5, 'the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee'. 'Stablish' is the verb of v.2.