1 Thessalonians · 13 verses
1 Thessalonians 3
Every verse links to the people and places named in it, and to the passages readers connect it with.
The chapter
What happens here
Atlas's own reading, written from this chapter and nothing else, and published only once a person has approved it. Each scene names the verses it covers; the names inside it link to the people and places they name.
The sender's life is made to depend on the Thessalonians standing firm in the Lord—a strikingly topsy-turvy arrangement.
Timothy sent to Athensvv. 1–5
The strain becomes unbearable, and the sender and companions are left on their own in Athens while Timothy is dispatched to strengthen the Thessalonians and steady them against trials. Persecution had been predicted plainly; now it has arrived, bringing with it the worry that the tempter might undo the whole labour.
Good news, and a prayer to returnvv. 6–13
Then Timothy returns with good news: faith and love are intact, and the Thessalonians still remember the sender fondly and long to meet again. Their steadfastness becomes the sender's own means of carrying on, while night-and-day prayer looks towards a face-to-face meeting and a faith made complete. The closing prayer asks for overflowing love, established hearts, and holiness at the coming of the Lord Jesus with all his saints—quite a great deal to fit into one breath.
The text
Read it
Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Names the Hebrew and Greek put in the verse link to the person, place or people they name; the address beside each verse is a link to that verse, which is what a reader copies and shares.
1 Thess 3:1So when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens.
1 Thess 3:2We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
1 Thess 3:3so that none of you would be shaken by these trials. For you know that we are destined for this.
1 Thess 3:4Indeed, when we were with you, we kept warning you that we would suffer persecution; and as you know, it has come to pass.
1 Thess 3:5For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted you and that our labor might have been in vain.
1 Thess 3:6But 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.
1 Thess 3:7For this reason, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we have been reassured about you, because of your faith.
1 Thess 3:8For now we can go on living, as long as you are standing firm in the Lord.
1 Thess 3:9How can we adequately thank God for you in return for our great joy over you in His presence?
1 Thess 3:10Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith.
1 Thess 3:11Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.
1 Thess 3:12And 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,
1 Thess 3:13so 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.
02 — Read alongside
Where this is echoed
Readers' own connections, from OpenBible's crowd-voted cross-references — agreement about relevance, and not scholarly confidence. 223 passages were voted onto 13 verses of this chapter; the 16 shown lead on votes, and each is listed at the verse it was voted onto most strongly.
- 3Acts 14:22strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
- 13Colossians 1:22But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence—
- 12Philippians 1:9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
- 131 Thessalonians 5:23Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 3Romans 5:3Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
- 13Ephesians 5:27and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.
- 3Acts 9:16I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”
- 3John 16:33I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
- 12Romans 13:8Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
- 12Matthew 22:39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
- 121 John 4:7–16Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
- 1Acts 17:15Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.
- 131 Thessalonians 2:19After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?
- 31 Corinthians 15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
- 11Proverbs 3:5–6Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
- 122 Thessalonians 1:3We are obligated to thank God for you all the time, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing more and more, and your love for one another is increasing.
Onward