1 Thessalonians 3

Paul's Longing to See Them Again

1 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing d to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we e sent Timothy, f our brother and God's coworker 1 in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that g we are destined for this. 4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, h just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. 5 For this reason, i when I could bear it no longer, i I sent to learn about your faith, j for fear that somehow k the tempter had tempted you and l our labor would be in vain.

Timothy's Encouraging Report

6 But m now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of n your faith and love and reported o that you always remember us kindly and p long to see us, as we long to see you - 7 for this reason, brothers, 2 in all our distress and affliction q we have been comforted about you through your faith. 8 For now we live, if you r are standing fast in the Lord. 9 For s what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly t night and day u that we may see you face to face and v supply what is lacking in your faith?

11 Now may w our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, x direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord y make you increase and abound in love z for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may a establish your hearts blameless in holiness before w our God and Father, at b the coming of our Lord Jesus c with all his saints.

  1. Cross References
    Acts 17:15 - 16
    Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.
  2. Cross References
    Philippians 2:19
    I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.
  3. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 1:1
    Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:
    Colossians 1:1
    Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother.
    Philemon 1:1
    Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker
    Hebrews 13:23
    You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon.
  4. Cross References
    Acts 9:16
    For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.
    Acts 14:22
    Strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
  5. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 2:14
    For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews.
  6. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 3:1 - 2
    Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone.
  7. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 3:1 - 2
    Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone.
  8. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 7:5
    Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
    2 Corinthians 11:3
    But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
  9. Cross References
    Matthew 4:3
    And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.
  10. Cross References
    Philippians 2:16
    Holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
  11. Cross References
    Acts 18:5
    When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.
    2 Corinthians 7:6
    But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus.
    2 Corinthians 7:9
    As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
  12. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 1:3
    Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
  13. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 11:2
    Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.
  14. Cross References
    Philippians 1:8
    For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.
  15. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 1:4
    Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
  16. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 16:13
    Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
  17. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 1:2
    We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers.
  18. Cross References
    2 Timothy 1:3
    I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.
  19. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 2:17
    But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face.
    Romans 1:10
    Always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.
  20. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 13:9
    For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.
  21. Cross References
    Galatians 1:4
    Who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.
  22. Cross References
    2 Thessalonians 3:5
    May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
  23. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 4:1
    Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.
    1 Thessalonians 4:10
    For that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more.
    Philippians 1:9
    And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment.
    2 Thessalonians 1:3
    We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.
  24. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 4:9
    Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.
    1 Thessalonians 5:15
    See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
  25. Cross References
    James 5:8
    You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
  26. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 3:11
    Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.
  27. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 2:19
    For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?
  28. Cross References
    Zechariah 14:5
    And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.
    Jude 1:14
    It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
Previous Book Next Book