1 So when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that none of you would be shaken by these trials. For you know that we are destined for this. 4 Indeed, when we were with you, we kept warning you that we would suffer persecution; and as you know, it has come to pass. 5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted you and caused our labor to be in vain. 6 But just now, Timothy has returned from his visit with the good news about your faith, your love, and the fond memories you have preserved, longing to see us just as we long to see you. 7 For this reason, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we have been reassured about you, because of your faith. 8 For now we can go on living, as long as you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we adequately thank God for you in return for our great joy over you in His presence? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking from your faith. 11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows, 13 so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.
1 Thessalonians · Berean Standard Bible
1 Thessalonians 3 Berean Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Cross references (13)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Acts 17:15; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 2:17; Jeremiah 20:9; 2 Corinthians 2:13
- 2 Acts 14:22–23; Ephesians 6:21–22; Philippians 2:19–25; 1 Corinthians 16:10–12; Acts 16:1
- 3 Acts 14:22; Romans 5:3; Acts 9:16; John 16:33; Acts 21:13
- 4 1 Thessalonians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 8:1–2; 1 Thessalonians 2:2; Acts 17:13; John 16:1–3
- 5 James 1:13–14; Matthew 4:3; 2 Corinthians 2:11; Galatians 1:6–9; Philippians 2:16
- 6 1 Corinthians 11:2; Isaiah 52:7; Acts 18:5; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; Proverbs 25:25
- 7 2 Corinthians 1:4; 2 John 4; 1 Thessalonians 3:8–9; 2 Corinthians 7:6–7; 1 Corinthians 4:9–13
- 8 1 Corinthians 16:13; Colossians 1:23; Revelation 3:11; Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 10:23
- 9 2 Corinthians 9:15; Psalm 96:12–13; Psalm 71:14–15; 1 Thessalonians 1:2–3; 1 Thessalonians 3:7–8
- 10 2 Corinthians 13:9; Romans 1:10–12; 1 Thessalonians 3:11; Romans 15:30–32; Philippians 1:25
- 11 Proverbs 3:5–6; Matthew 6:32; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; Luke 12:32
- 12 Philippians 1:9; Romans 13:8; 1 John 4:7–16; Matthew 22:39; 2 Thessalonians 1:3
- 13 Colossians 1:22; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Ephesians 5:27; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; Jude 14
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
A question lies before us to-day, which is much disputed, and which is gathered from many sources. But what is this question? "For this cause," he says, "when I could no longer forbear, I sent Timothy that I might know your faith." What sayest thou?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 13 (1889)
"But now we live, if ye, Brethren, stand fast in the Lord." I would not that ye should stand fast in us, but in the Lord.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
are not even ye?" at another, "Now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord;" at another, "Out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you;" and, "Who is weak, and I am not weak?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
… and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do towards you; to the end He may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints." Now what Lord does he entreat to stablish the hearts of the faithful at Thessalonica, …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)
… joying and beholding your order, and that which is lacking in your faith in Christ." And in that to the Thessalonians: "Night and day," he says, "praying more abundantly, that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith." Here we are, of course, to understand those who were under such primary catechetical instruction, …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)