1 Thessalonians 3:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But 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 —

NIV: But 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.

NASB: But 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,

CSB: But 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.

NLT: But 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.

KJV: But now when Timothy 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:

NKJV: But 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—

Paul was prevented from returning to the Thessalonian Christians (1 Thessalonians 2:18), and so he sent Timothy (1 Thessalonians 3:1–2). This was both to strengthen them and to investigate whether or not they'd been able to withstand persecution (1 Thessalonians 3:5). Paul's concern was that the Devil might have hindered the Thessalonian believers from making further progress in the faith. This fear vanished when Timothy arrived from Thessalonica. Timothy brought a glowing report of the believers' spiritual growth. They were abounding in faith that worked, love that toiled hard, and hope that was unflinching (1 Thessalonians 1:3). They were faithfully imitating Paul and his fellow missionaries and the Lord (1 Thessalonians 1:6). Also, they were faithful messengers of God's Word (1 Thessalonians 1:8).

In 1 Thessalonians 3:6 Paul refers to their trust in the Lord and love for Paul as good news. He also rejoiced in the fact that the Thessalonians thought kindly of him and wanted to see him as much as he wanted to see them. It is evidence of believers' love for the Lord and one another that absence from each other makes the heart grow fonder. They look forward to fellowshipping together at the first opportunity.

First Thessalonians 3:6–10 expresses Paul's thanks for Timothy's good news regarding the Thessalonian believers. They showed faith and love and remembered Paul kindly. Also, they wanted to see him again, just as he wanted to see them. This good report cheered Paul in the midst of his trials. The fact that the believers were standing firm in the Lord gave Paul a new lease on life. He felt that he could not thank God enough for all the joy news of the Thessalonians' resolute faith and love had brought him. He was praying consistently both night and day that God would enable him to see the Thessalonians again. He was sure his visit would make it possible for him to nurture their young faith.

In chapter 3, Paul completes his discussion of the current state of the church in Thessalonica. After sending Timothy, Paul has received confirmation that the believers there are standing firm in their faith. Their devotion to the gospel is surviving, despite the persecutions which Paul predicted would arise. Paul once again thanks the Thessalonians for their faithfulness and prays for their continual growth.

Chapter 3 concludes Paul's comments about the condition of the Thessalonian church. These began in chapter 1 and were given more details in chapters 2 and 3. Here, Paul expresses his joy that the Thessalonians are enduring persecution faithfully, and he prays that they will continue to grow. In the following chapters, Paul will address some of the concerns plaguing the Thessalonians, including worries about the end times.

The apostle Paul's second missionary journey included a visit to the prominent Greek city of Thessalonica. This stood alongside a major land route and boasted a busy seaport. A number of individuals believed Paul's message (Acts 17:1–4), but an angry mob forced Paul to leave the city after his brief stay. Later, while in Athens, Paul received a glowing report: the believers at Thessalonica were growing spiritually and serving God fervently. However, they had questions about the Lord's return, including what happens to a believer who dies before that day. And, as all churches do, they had some areas in which they were falling short. In Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians, written about AD 51, he addresses these developments. Paul expresses gratitude for the Thessalonian believers' spiritual progress, and frequently makes references to Christ's impending return.