The Letters · New Testament

1 Thessalonians 3

1 Thessalonians 3: Timotheus is sent and brings word back

General context

Unable to forbear any longer, the writers thought it good to be left at Athens alone and sent Timotheus, called their brother, minister of God and fellowlabourer in the gospel, to establish and comfort the readers concerning their faith. The stated purpose is that no man should be moved by these afflictions, since, the writers say, we are appointed thereunto and had told the readers beforehand that they should suffer tribulation, which came to pass. The singular voice explains the sending again: the writer sent to know their faith, in case the tempter had tempted them and the labour proved in vain. Timotheus then came from the readers with good tidings of their faith and charity and their good remembrance, and with word that they desire to see the writers. The writers say they were comforted in all their affliction and distress, that now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord, and that they cannot render thanks enough for the joy they have. They pray night and day to see the readers' face and to perfect what is lacking in their faith. The chapter ends in direct prayer, that God and the Lord Jesus Christ direct their way, that the readers increase in love toward one another and toward all men, and that their hearts be established unblameable in holiness at the coming of the Lord with all his saints.

Cited passages: 1 Thessalonians 3:1, 1 Thessalonians 3:2, 1 Thessalonians 3:3, 1 Thessalonians 3:4, 1 Thessalonians 3:5, 1 Thessalonians 3:6, 1 Thessalonians 3:7, 1 Thessalonians 3:8, 1 Thessalonians 3:9, 1 Thessalonians 3:10, 1 Thessalonians 3:11, 1 Thessalonians 3:12, 1 Thessalonians 3:13

1 Thessalonians 3 (KJV)

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.

This page shows the King James Version. In the app, reading opens in the Berean Standard Bible unless you have chosen another translation. The reader includes five translations: the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), the King James Version (KJV), the World English Bible (WEB), the Bible in Basic English (BBE), and the American Standard Version (ASV). Search covers three of them: Berean Standard, King James, and World English. Basic English and American Standard readers search the King James words.

Historical context

The chapter supplies the letter's clearest sequence of movement: the writers are separated from the readers, remain at Athens, send Timotheus to Thessalonica, and receive him back with a report before the letter is written. Timotheus, named among the senders in the opening verse, is described here by relation and office, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, with no further biography. The affliction is presented as expected rather than surprising, since the writers say they had told the readers in advance. The figure called the tempter is named without description. The letter does not say where the writers are when they write, how long Timotheus travelled, who carried the letter, or what specifically was lacking in the readers' faith.

Cited passages: 1 Thessalonians 3:1, 1 Thessalonians 3:2, 1 Thessalonians 3:4, 1 Thessalonians 3:5, 1 Thessalonians 3:6, 1 Thessalonians 3:10

Literary context

This chapter turns the letter from memory to the present. The same clause opens it twice, when we could no longer forbear in the plural and when I could no longer forbear in the singular, so the sending is told, then retold in one man's voice. Absence and presence organize the argument: the writers cannot come, so they send a person; the person returns, so news takes the place of a visit. Two phrases carry over from the earlier chapter, labour be in vain answering it was not in vain, and Night and day praying answering labouring night and day. The chapter ends by converting the report into petition, and the petition lands where chapters one and two landed, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Cited passages: 1 Thessalonians 3:1, 1 Thessalonians 3:5, 1 Thessalonians 3:6, 1 Thessalonians 3:7, 1 Thessalonians 3:10, 1 Thessalonians 3:11, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, 1 Thessalonians 2:1, 1 Thessalonians 2:9

Key moments

Left at Athens alone (1 Thessalonians 3:1). The writers say they thought it good to remain at Athens by themselves.
Timotheus is sent (1 Thessalonians 3:2). Timotheus is sent to establish and comfort the readers concerning their faith.
Tribulation foretold (1 Thessalonians 3:4). The writers say they had warned the readers in advance of suffering.
Fear of the tempter (1 Thessalonians 3:5). The writer says he sent to learn their faith in case the tempter had tempted them.
Good tidings return (1 Thessalonians 3:6). Timotheus comes back with word of the readers' faith and charity.
Prayer to see them (1 Thessalonians 3:10). The writers pray night and day to see the readers face to face.
Established at his coming (1 Thessalonians 3:13). The prayer asks that their hearts be unblameable at the Lord's coming.

For reflection

The writers say they live if the readers stand fast. What does it cost to tie your own steadiness to news about people you cannot reach?