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1 Thessalonians 3:9

in 1 Thessalonians 3

How can we adequately thank God for you in return for our great joy over you in His presence?

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

For what thanksgiving can we render again unto God for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;

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;

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This verse in 1 Thessalonians 3

Commentary

9 notes on this verse
For what thanks can we render to God again - That is, what expression of thanksgiving can we render to God that shall be an equivalent for the joy which your holy walk has furnished, or which will suitably express our gratitude for it.

This site's exposition

How can we adequately thank God for you

on 1 Thessalonians 3:9-10

Prayer follows the thanks at once, that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking from your faith. That last clause states the letter's own purpose, a young faith whole in kind and still growing in measure.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on 1 Thessalonians 4 · Written before 407.

proposed

"For what thanksgiving can we render again unto God for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?" Not only, he says, are ye the causes of life to us, but also of much joy, and so much that we cannot worthily give thanks to God. Your good behavior, he says, we consider to be the gift of God. Such kindnesses have you shown to us, that we think it to be of God; yea, rather, and it is of God. For such a disposition of mind comes not of a human soul or carefulness. "Night and day," he says, "praying exceedingly." This too is a sign of joy. For as any husbandman, hearing concerning his land that has been tilled by himself, that it is burdened with ears of grain, longs with his own eyes to see so pleasant a sight, so Paul to see Macedonia. "Praying exceedingly." Observe the excess; "that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith." Here there is a great question. For if now thou livest, because they stand fast, and Timothy brought thee "glad tidings of their faith and love," and thou art full of so much joy as not to be able worthily to give thanks to God, how sayest thou here that there are deficiencies in their faith? Were those then the words of flattery? By no means, far be it. For previously he testified that they endured many conflicts, and were no worse affected than the Churches in Judaea. What then is it? They had not enjoyed the full benefit of his teaching, nor learned all that it behoved them to learn. And this he shows toward the end. Perhaps there had been questionings among them concerning the Resurrection, and there were many who troubled them, not by temptations, nor by dangers, but by acting the part of teachers. […]

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 1 Thessalonians · Written before 1107.

proposed

Such, he says, is our joy over you, that we are not even able to worthily thank God for you. Your progress we consider a gift of God. For such a lofty feeling is not characteristic of the human soul or of human effort. That …

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on 1 Thessalonians · Written before 1274.

proposed

Then when Paul says, for what thanksgiving can we render to God for you, the second effect of their existent relationship is treated, namely, the spirit of thanksgiving, as if implying: I am not worthy to supply fitting thanks to God for you: "With what …

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

For what thanks can we render to God again or you,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

But he was careful God should not lose the glory of the comfort he received in the welfare of his friends. His heart was enlarged with love to them and with thanksgiving to God. He was willing to express the one and the other as well as he could.
2 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

It was "comfort," 1Th 3:7, now it is more, namely, joy. for your sakes--on your account. before our God--It is a joy which will bear God's searching eye: a joy as in the presence of God, not self-seeking, but disinterested, sincere, and spiritual (compare 1Th 2:20;

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

What thanks can we render to God - The high satisfaction and uncommon joy which the apostle felt are strongly depicted in the language he uses. How near his heart did the success of his ministry lie! It was not enough for him that he preached so often, labored so hard, suffered so much; what were all these if souls were not converted? And what were all conversions, if those who embraced the Gospel did not walk steadily in the way to heaven, and persevere?

The words behind it

21 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Philippians 1:3I thank my God every time I remember you.11 worksEphesians 5:20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.6 worksPhilemon 1:7I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.6 worksPsalms 96:12–13Let the fields exult, and all that is in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy5 works2 Corinthians 9:15Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!5 works1 Corinthians 15:31I face death every day, brothers, as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.5 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
1 Thessalonians 1:2–3We always thank God for all of you, remembering you in our prayers4 worksPsalms 71:14–15But I will always hope and will praise You more and more.4 works2 Samuel 7:18–20Then King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?3 works1 Thessalonians 3:7–8For this reason, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we have been reassured about you, because of your faith.3 worksRomans 6:17But thanks be to God that, though you once were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were committed.3 worksDeuteronomy 16:11and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in the place He will choose as a dwelling for His Name—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite within your gates, as well as the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widows among you.2 worksNehemiah 9:5Then the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—said, “Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting: Blessed be Your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise.2 worksDeuteronomy 12:18Instead, you must eat them in the presence of the LORD your God at the place the LORD your God will choose—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite within your gates. Rejoice before the LORD your God in all you do,2 works1 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?2 works2 Samuel 6:21But David said to Michal, “I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me over your father and all his house when He appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel. I will celebrate before the LORD,2 worksDeuteronomy 12:2Destroy completely all the places where the nations you are dispossessing have served their gods—atop the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree.2 worksPsalms 98:8–9Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy2 works

The walk

5 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    2 Corinthians 9:15

    Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

    it leads to

    • 2 Corinthians 2:14

      But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.

    • Ephesians 5:20

      always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    • John 3:16

      For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

    • Romans 8:32

      He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?

    • James 1:17

      Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.

Where this verse is studied

On this page

Studies1

About 1 Thessalonians

St Paul Preaching at Athens, Raphael, about 1515 to 1516, Royal Collection. Public domain.
St Paul Preaching at Athens, Raphael, about 1515 to 1516, Royal Collection. Public domain.
1 Thessalonians: the study guide →Read 1 Thessalonians 3 →
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Thessalonians 4; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Thessalonians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Thessalonians.

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