Chapter
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1 Thessalonians chapter 3

English Standard Version

1Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2and we sent Timothy, our brother and God 's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 4For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. 5For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.
6But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you — 7for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. 8For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. 9For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?
11Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
New International Version

1So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. 4In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. 5For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.
6But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. 7Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
11Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
New American Standard Bible

1Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it best to be left behind, alone at Athens, 2and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you for the benefit of your faith, 3so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we have been destined for this. 4For even when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it happened, as you know. 5For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be for nothing.
6But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, 7for this reason, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; 8for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord. 9For what thanks can we give to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice because of you before our God, 10as we keep praying most earnestly night and day that we may see your faces, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?
11Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you; 12and may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; 13so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.
Christian Standard Bible

1Therefore, when we could no longer stand it, we thought it was better to be left alone in Athens. 2And we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you concerning your faith, 3so that no one will be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 4In fact, when we were with you, we told you in advance that we were going to experience affliction, and as you know, it happened. 5For this reason, when I could no longer stand it, I also sent him to find out about your faith, fearing that the tempter had tempted you and that our labor might be for nothing.
6But now Timothy has come to us from you and brought us good news about your faith and love. He reported that you always have good memories of us and that you long to see us, as we also long to see you. 7Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and affliction, we were encouraged about you through your faith. 8For now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord. 9How can we thank God for you in return for all the joy we experience before our God because of you, 10as we pray very earnestly night and day to see you face to face and to complete what is lacking in your faith?
11Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you. 12And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone, just as we do for you. 13May he make your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. Amen.
New Living Translation

1Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens, 2and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, 3and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. 4Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come — and they did, as you well know. 5That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless.
6But now Timothy has just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love. He reports that you always remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you. 7So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. 8It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord.
9How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. 10Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith.
11May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. 12And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. 13May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.
King James Version

1Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; 2And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: 3That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. 4For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. 5For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
6But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: 7Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
8For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. 9For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; 10Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
11Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. 12And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
New King James Version

1Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 2and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, 3that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 4For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. 5For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.
6But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you— 7therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. 8For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.
9For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, 10night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?
11Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. 12And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, 13so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

What does 1 Thessalonians chapter 3 mean?

In this chapter Paul tells the Thessalonian believers that he had sent Timothy from Athens to Thessalonica to encourage them, and to learn how they were getting along in the Christian life. He reminds them that his sufferings were not unexpected but were predicted (1 Thessalonians 3:1–5).

Paul states that Timothy had returned with good news about the Thessalonian believers' faith and love. Timothy had also told Paul that the believers shared fond memories of Paul and longed to see him again, just as he longed to see them. This corresponds to Paul's earlier comment that he had only been prevented from visiting the Thessalonians by the interference of Satan (1 Thessalonians 2:18). Timothy's positive report helped Paul cope with his afflictions. Paul indicates he has great joy in knowing the believers at Thessalonica were doing well spiritually. He says he is praying around the clock to see them face-to-face and to address any deficiencies in their faith (1 Thessalonians 3:6–10). Some of those concerns, at least, Paul will discuss in chapters 4 and 5.

The chapter closes with Paul praying that the Lord would make the Thessalonian believers' love overflow to one another and to others, as Paul's love overflowed to the Thessalonians. He asks God to strengthen them so they would be free of accusations at the coming of the Lord Jesus with His saints. This is a reference to departed righteous souls who will receive their resurrected bodies at that time (1 Thessalonians 3:11–13).

After these words, Paul will begin to address some of the fears and doubts with which the Thessalonians are struggling. These include worries inspired by false teachings about the end times and the return of Christ.
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