1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
2 And 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:
3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
5 For 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.
6 But 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:
7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.
12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
13 To 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.
1 Wherefore G1352 when we could G4722 no longer G3371 forbear, G4722 we thought it good G2106 to be left G2641 at G1722 Athens G116 alone; G3441
2 And G2532 sent G3992 Timotheus, G5095 our G2257 brother, G80 and G2532 minister G1249 of God, G2316 and G2532 our G2257 fellowlabourer G4904 in G1722 the gospel G2098 of Christ, G5547 to G1519 establish G4741 you, G5209 and G2532 to comfort G3870 you G5209 concerning G4012 your G5216 faith: G4102
3 That no man G3367 should be moved G4525 by G1722 these G5025 afflictions: G2347 for G1063 yourselves G846 know G1492 that G3754 we are appointed G2749 thereunto. G1519 G5124
4 For G1063 verily, G2532 when G3753 we were G2258 with G4314 you, G5209 we told G4302 you G5213 before G4302 that G3754 we should G3195 suffer tribulation; G2346 even G2532 as G2531 it came to pass, G1096 and G2532 ye know. G1492
5 For this G5124 cause, G1223 when I G2504 could G4722 no longer G3371 forbear, G4722 I sent G3992 to G1519 know G1097 your G5216 faith, G4102 lest by some means G3381 G4458 the tempter G3985 have tempted G3985 you, G5209 and G2532 our G2257 labour G2873 be G1096 in G1519 vain. G2756
6 But G1161 now G737 when Timotheus G5095 came G2064 from G575 you G5216 unto G4314 us, G2248 and G2532 brought G2097 us G2254 good tidings G2097 of your G5216 faith G4102 and G2532 charity, G26 and G2532 that G3754 ye have G2192 good G18 remembrance G3417 of us G2257 always, G3842 desiring greatly G1971 to see G1492 us, G2248 as G2509 we G2249 also G2532 to see you: G5209
7 Therefore, G1223 G5124 brethren, G80 we were comforted G3870 over G1909 you G5213 in G1909 all G3956 our G2257 affliction G2347 and G2532 distress G318 by G1223 your G5216 faith: G4102
8 For G3754 now G3568 we live, G2198 if G1437 ye G5210 stand fast G4739 in G1722 the Lord. G2962
9 For G1063 what G5101 thanks G2169 can we G1410 render G467 to God G2316 again G467 for G4012 you, G5216 for G1909 all G3956 the joy G5479 wherewith G3739 we joy G5463 for G1223 your sakes G5209 before G1715 our G2257 God; G2316
10 Night G3571 and G2532 day G2250 praying G1189 exceedingly G1537 G4053 G5228 that G1519 we might see G1492 your G5216 face, G4383 and G2532 might perfect G2675 that which is lacking G5303 in your G5216 faith? G4102
11 Now G1161 God G2316 himself G846 and G2532 our G2257 Father, G3962 and G2532 our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 direct G2720 our G2257 way G3598 unto G4314 you. G5209
12 And G1161 the Lord G2962 make G4121 you G5209 to increase G4121 and G2532 abound G4052 in love G26 one G240 toward G1519 another, G240 and G2532 toward G1519 all G3956 men, even G2532 as G2509 we G2249 do toward G1519 you: G5209
13 To the end G1519 he may stablish G4741 your G5216 hearts G2588 unblameable G273 in G1722 holiness G42 before G1715 God, G2316 even G2532 our G2257 Father, G3962 at G1722 the coming G3952 of our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 with G3326 all G3956 his G846 saints. G40
1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone;
2 and sent Timothy, our brother and God's minister in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort `you' concerning your faith;
3 that no man be moved by these afflictions; for yourselves know that hereunto we are appointed.
4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
5 For this cause I also, when I could no longer forbear, sent that I might know your faith, lest by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor should be in vain.
6 But when Timothy came even now unto us from you, and brought us glad tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, even as we also `to see' you;
7 for this cause, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith:
8 for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
9 For what thanksgiving can we render again unto God for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way unto you:
12 and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we also `do' toward you;
13 to the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
1 Wherefore no longer forbearing, we thought good to be left in Athens alone,
2 and did send Timotheus -- our brother, and a ministrant of God, and our fellow-workman in the good news of the Christ -- to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith,
3 that no one be moved in these tribulations, for yourselves have known that for this we are set,
4 for even when we were with you, we said to you beforehand, that we are about to suffer tribulation, as also it did come to pass, and ye have known `it';
5 because of this also, I, no longer forbearing, did send to know your faith, lest he who is tempting did tempt you, and in vain might be our labour.
6 And now Timotheus having come unto us from you, and having declared good news to us of your faith and love, and that ye have a good remembrance of us always, desiring much to see us, as we also `to see' you,
7 because of this we were comforted, brethren, over you, in all our tribulation and necessity, through your faith,
8 because now we live, if ye may stand fast in the Lord;
9 for what thanks are we able to recompense to God for you, for all the joy with which we do joy because of you in the presence of our God?
10 night and day exceedingly beseeching, that we might see your face, and perfect the things lacking in your faith.
11 And our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you,
12 and you the Lord cause to increase and to abound in the love to one another, and to all, even as we also to you,
13 to the establishing your hearts blameless in sanctification before our God and Father, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
1 Wherefore, being no longer able to refrain ourselves, we thought good to be left alone in Athens,
2 and sent Timotheus, our brother and fellow-workman under God in the glad tidings of Christ, to confirm you and encourage [you] concerning your faith,
3 that no one might be moved by these afflictions. (For yourselves know that we are set for this;
4 for also, when we were with you, we told you beforehand we are about to be in tribulation, even as also it came to pass, and ye know.)
5 For this reason *I* also, no longer able to refrain myself, sent to know your faith, lest perhaps the tempter had tempted you and our labour should be come to nothing.
6 But Timotheus having just come to us from you, and brought to us the glad tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have always good remembrance of us, desiring much to see us, even as we also you;
7 for this reason we have been comforted in you, brethren, in all our distress and tribulation, through your faith,
8 because now we live if *ye* stand firm in [the] Lord.
9 For what thanksgiving can we render to God for you, for all the joy wherewith we rejoice on account of you before our God,
10 night and day beseeching exceedingly to the end that we may see your face, and perfect what is lacking in your faith?
11 But our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.
12 But you, may the Lord make to exceed and abound in love toward one another, and toward all, even as we also towards you,
13 in order to the confirming of your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
1 Therefore, when we couldn't stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone,
2 and sent Timothy, our brother and God's servant in the Gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith;
3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task.
4 For most assuredly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even as it happened, and you know.
5 For this cause I also, when I couldn't stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor would have been in vain.
6 But when Timothy came just now to us from you, and brought us glad news of your faith and love, and that you have good memories of us always, longing to see us, even as we also long to see you;
7 for this cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith.
8 For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.
9 For what thanksgiving can we render again to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God;
10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you;
12 and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we also do toward you,
13 to the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
1 At last our desire to have news of you was so strong that, while we ourselves were waiting at Athens,
2 We sent Timothy, our brother and God's servant in the good news of Christ, to give you strength and comfort in your faith;
3 So that no man might be moved by these troubles; because you see that these things are part of God's purpose for us.
4 And when we were with you, we said to you that trouble was before us; and so it came about, as you see.
5 For this reason, when I was no longer able to keep quiet, I sent to get news of your faith, fearing that you might be tested by the Evil One and that our work might come to nothing.
6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has given us good news of your faith and love, and that you have happy memories of us, desiring greatly to see us, even as we do to see you;
7 For this cause, brothers, in all our trouble and grief we were comforted about you because of your faith;
8 For it is life to us if you keep your faith in the Lord unchanged.
9 For how great is the praise which we give to God for you, and how great the joy with which we are glad because of you before our God;
10 Night and day requesting God again and again that we may see your face and make your faith complete.
11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus make a way for us to come to you;
12 And the Lord give you increase of love in fullest measure to one another and to all men, even as our love to you;
13 So that your hearts may be strong and free from all sin before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 3
Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 3 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 3
In this chapter the apostle gives further evidence of his love to the Thessalonians, reminding them of his sending Timothy to them, with the mention of his design therein and his inducements so to do (v. 1-5). He acquaints them also with his great satisfaction at the return of Timothy, with good tidings concerning them (v. 6-10). And concludes with fervent prayer for them (v. 11-13).
1Th 3:1-5
In these words the apostle gives an account of his sending Timothy to the Thessalonians. Though he was hindered from going to them himself, yet his love was such that he could not forbear sending Timothy to them. Though Timothy was very useful to him, and he could not well spare him, yet Paul was content, for their good, to be left alone at Athens. Note, Those ministers do not duly value the establishment and welfare of their people who cannot deny themselves in many things for that end. Observe,
1Th 3:6-10
Here we have Paul's great satisfaction upon the return of Timothy with good tidings from the Thessalonians, in which we may observe,
1Th 3:11-13
In these words we have the earnest prayer of the apostle. He desired to be instrumental in the further benefit of the Thessalonians; and the only way to be so while at a distance was by prayer for them, together with his writing or sending to them. He desired that their faith might be perfected, which he could not be the proper cause or author of; for he pretended not to dominion over their faith, nor to have the donation of it, and he therefore concludes with prayer for them. Observe,