1 Therefore, when we could no longer bear it, we thought it was good to be left behind at Athens alone. 2 We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and comfort you regarding your faith. 3 We did this so that no one would be shaken by these sufferings. For yourselves know that for this we have been appointed. 4 Truly, when we were with you, we told you in advance that we were about to suffer affliction, and that happened, as you know. 5 For this reason, when I could no longer stand it, I sent that I might know about your faith. Perhaps the tempter had somehow tempted you, and our labor was in vain. 6 But Timothy came to us from you and brought us the good news of your faith and love. He told us that you always have good memories of us, and that you long to see us just as we also long to see you. 7 Because of this, brothers, we were comforted by you because of your faith, in all our distress and affliction. 8 For now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord. 9 For what thanks can we give to God for you, for all the joy that we have before our God over you? 10 Night and day we pray very hard that we may see your face and provide what is lacking in your faith. 11 May our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you. 12 May the Lord make you increase and abound in love one for another and toward all people, as we also do for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts, so that they will be blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
1 Thessalonians · Unlocked Literal Bible
1 Thessalonians 3 Unlocked Literal 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)