6But now, Timothy having come to us from you and having brought good news to us of your faith and love, and that you always have a good remembrance of us, longing to see us, just as also we you— [3:7] because of this we were encouraged, brothers, concerning you, in all our distress and tribulation, through your faith; [3:8] for now we live, if you yourselves are standing firm in the Lord. [3:9] For what thanksgiving are we able to give back to God concerning you, in return for all the joy that we rejoice because of you before our God, [3:10] imploring super overexcessively, night and day, to see your face and to supply the things lacking in your faith? [3:11] Now may God himself, even our Father, and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you; [3:12] and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all, just as we also toward you— [3:13] in order to strengthen your hearts blameless in holiness before the God and Father of us, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. Amen.
1TH 3:6-13
Timothyʼs Encouraging Report
In the world it was spoken into
In the Greco-Roman world, the exchange of messengers like Timothy was a common practice, particularly among networks of communities tied by shared values or religious commitments. Timothy’s report to Paul and Silas would have been understood as a vital link in maintaining relational and spiritual solidarity. The mention of 'faith' and 'love' would have resonated deeply in a context where communal bonds were essential for survival, especially under Roman imperial pressures. The 'distress' and 'tribulation' Paul references were likely familiar to the Thessalonian believers, who faced social and economic ostracism for their allegiance to Christ. The phrase 'standing firm in the Lord' would have been a call to endurance in a culture where loyalty to one’s patron or deity was paramount. The 'holiness' Paul desires for them reflects a Jewish-Christian ideal of moral purity, setting them apart in a polytheistic society. The 'extraordinary' joy Paul expresses mirrors the communal ethos of mutual encouragement in early Christian groups.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
1TH 3:6
- KJV
- 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:
- BSB
- But just now, Timothy has returned from his visit with the good news about your faith, your love, and the fond memories you have preserved, longing to see us just as we long to see you.
- Koinōnos
- But now, Timothy having come to us from you and having brought good news to us of your faith and love, and that you always have a good remembrance of us, longing to see us, just as also we you—
1TH 3:7
- KJV
- Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
- BSB
- For this reason, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we have been reassured about you, because of your faith.
- Koinōnos
- because of this we were encouraged, brothers, concerning you, in all our distress and tribulation, through your faith;
1TH 3:8
- KJV
- For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
- BSB
- For now we can go on living, as long as you are standing firm in the Lord.
- Koinōnos
- for now we live, if you yourselves are standing firm in the Lord.
1TH 3:9
- KJV
- For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
- BSB
- How can we adequately thank God for you in return for our great joy over you in His presence?
- Koinōnos
- For what thanksgiving are we able to give back to God concerning you, in return for all the joy that we rejoice because of you before our God,
1TH 3:10
- KJV
- Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
- BSB
- Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith.
- Koinōnos
- imploring super overexcessively, night and day, to see your face and to supply the things lacking in your faith?
1TH 3:11
- KJV
- Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.
- BSB
- Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.
- Koinōnos
- Now may God himself, even our Father, and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you;
1TH 3:12
- KJV
- And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
- BSB
- And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows,
- Koinōnos
- and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all, just as we also toward you—
1TH 3:13
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.
- Koinōnos
- in order to strengthen your hearts blameless in holiness before the God and Father of us, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. Amen.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
1TH 3:7
- distress:The word translated 'distress' here refers to a compelling necessity or an unavoidable constraint, often implying a situation where one is forced to act or endure.
- tribulation:The term translated 'tribulation' literally means a pressing or crushing, like grapes in a winepress, conveying intense external pressure or affliction.
1TH 3:10
- super overexcessively:The word translated 'super overexcessively' is an intensified compound, meaning 'beyond all measure' or 'exceedingly abundantly,' emphasizing an extreme degree of something.
1TH 3:13
- holiness:The word translated 'holiness' refers to the quality of being set apart for God's service and consecrated to Him, implying moral purity and devotion.