1 Thessalonians 3
World English Bible · Public-domain text
1 Thessalonians 3
A letter recalling a community’s beginnings, encouraging its conduct and addressing grief and hope. Read the discussion of those who have died alongside its pastoral purpose.
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1Therefore when we couldn’t stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone,
2and sent Timothy, our brother and God’s servant in the Good News of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith,
3that no one would be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task.
4For most certainly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even as it happened, and you know.
5For 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.
6But 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,
7for this cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith.
8For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.
9For what thanksgiving can we render again to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God,
10night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
11Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.
12May the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another, and toward all men, even as we also do toward you,
13to 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.
Respectful inquiry and nonviolence guide our reading. Text and editorial notes are different. Scripture is the public-domain World English Bible, supplied through a dated digital-text snapshot. Topic selections and comparison notes are original editorial aids, not part of the translation or an exhaustive concordance.
Source snapshot expanded October 20, 2026. All 27 New Testament books and 19 selected Old Testament chapters are included. Verse wording is preserved; paragraph formatting and translator footnotes are not reproduced. Read the publisher’s text and notes · Text provenance. New notes dated October 19, 2026.