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1 Thessalonians 3:6

in 1 Thessalonians 3

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.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

But when Timothy came even now unto us from you, and brought us glad tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, even as we also to see you;

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:

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This verse in 1 Thessalonians 3

Commentary

11 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

When Timotheus came - We have already seen that he and Silas stayed behind at Thessalonica, when Paul was obliged to leave it; for the persecution seems to have been principally directed against him. When Paul came to Athens, he sent pressingly to him and Silas to come to him with all speed to that city. We are not informed that they did come, but it is most likely that they did, and that Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to comfort and build up these new converts.

This site's exposition

Timothy has returned from his visit

on 1 Thessalonians 3:6-7

Timothy's report meets every fear at once: the good news about your faith, your love, two graces of 1:3 intact under pressure. Verse 7 names the effect on Paul, their steadiness steadying him.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on 1 Thessalonians 4 · Written before 407.

proposed

"But when Timothy came even now unto us from you, and brought us glad tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, even as we also to see you." "Brought us glad tidings," he says. Do you see the excessive joy of Paul? he does not say, brought us word, but "brought us glad tidings." So great a good did he think their steadfastness and love. For it was necessary, the one remaining firm, that the other also must be steadfast. And he rejoiced in their love, because it was a sign of their faith. "And that ye have," he says, "good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, even as we also to see you." That is, with praises. Not when we were present, nor when we were working miracles, but even now, when we are far off, and are scourged, and are suffering numberless evils, "ye have good remembrance of us." Hear how disciples are admired, who have good remembrance of their teachers, how they are called blessed. Let us imitate these. For we benefit ourselves, not those who are loved by us. "Longing to see us," he says, "as we also to see you." And this too cheered them; for to him who loves, to perceive that the beloved person knows that he is beloved, is a great comfort and consolation.

The Medieval Church3 voices

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 1 Thessalonians · Written before 1107.

proposed

I, he says, expected one thing, but the opposite happened. Pay attention to the great joy of Paul! He did not say: news, but: "good news." So great a blessing did he consider their steadfastness in the faith. And he rejoiced in their love, because …

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 1 Thessalonians · Written before 1107.

proposed

That is, you remember us with praises and approval. Listen, disciples, and learn to always preserve a good memory of your teachers. For by this you will bring benefit to yourselves, not to them. It is a very great consolation and joy for the Thessalonians …

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on 1 Thessalonians · Written before 1274.

proposed

Then when Paul says: but now that Timothy has come to us from you, he comments that Timothy spoke of their good practices towards God and towards the Apostle: faith and love towards God: "For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new …

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

But now when Timotheus was come to us from you - Immediately after his return, St. Paul wrote; while his joy was fresh, and his tenderness at the height.
4 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Without question, he was a willing messenger of these good tidings. Concerning their faith, that is, concerning their stedfastness in the faith, that they were not shaken in mind, nor turned aside form the profession of the gospel. Their love also continued; their love to the gospel, and the ministers of the gospel.
But now when Timotheus came from you unto us,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

"But Timotheus having just now come from you unto us" [ALFORD]. Thus it appears (compare Ac 18:5) Paul is writing from Corinth. your faith and charity-- (1Th 1:3; compare 2Th 1:3, whence it seems their faith subsequently increased still more). Faith was the solid foundation: charity the cement which held together the superstructure of their practice on that foundation.
But now when Timotheus came from you unto us - To Corinth, after he had been sent to Thessalonica; Act 18:5; compare notes on 1Th 3:2. And brought us good tidings - A cheerful or favorable account. Greek “evangelizing;” that is, bringing good news. Of your faith - Of your faithfulness or fidelity. Amidst all their trials they evinced fidelity to the Christian cause. And charity - Love; notes, 1Co 13:1. And that ye have good remembrance of us always - That is, probably, they showed their remembrance of Paul by obeying his precepts, and by cherishing an affectionate regard for him, notwithstanding all the efforts which had been made to alienate their affections from him. Desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you - There was no disposition to blame him for having left them, or because he did not return to them. They would have welcomed him again as their teacher and friend. The meaning of this is, that there was between him and them a strong mutual attachment.

The words behind it

31 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.

1 Corinthians 11:2Now I commend you for remembering me in everything and for maintaining the traditions, just as I passed them on to you.6 worksColossians 1:4because we have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints—6 works1 Thessalonians 2:17Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense.6 works1 Thessalonians 1:3and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.6 worksIsaiah 52:7How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”5 works1 Corinthians 16:14Do everything in love.5 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Proverbs 25:25Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.4 worksActs 18:5And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.4 worksPhilippians 1:8God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.3 works2 Corinthians 7:5–7For when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were pressed from every direction—conflicts on the outside, fears within.3 worksRevelation 2:19I know your deeds—your love, your faith, your service, your perseverance—and your latter deeds are greater than your first.3 worksActs 16:1Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father.3 worksGalatians 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.2 works2 Timothy 1:3I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as did my forefathers, as I constantly remember you night and day in my prayers.2 works1 Thessalonians 2:9Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.2 works1 Thessalonians 3:9–10How can we adequately thank God for you in return for our great joy over you in His presence?2 worksHebrews 13:3Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them.2 worksColossians 4:18This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.2 works

The walk

8 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

    Isaiah 52:7

    How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

    it leads to

    • Romans 10:12–15

      For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him,

    • Nahum 1:15

      Look to the mountains—the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows. For the wicked will never again march through you; they will be…

    • Mark 16:15

      And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

    • Isaiah 61:1–3

      The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty…

    • Isaiah 40:9

      Go up on a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news. Raise your voice loudly, O Jerusalem, herald of good news. Lift it up, do not be afraid! Say to the cities of…

  • Through

    1 Thessalonians 1:3

    and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

    it leads to

    • 1 Corinthians 13:13

      And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.

    • Revelation 2:19

      I know your deeds—your love, your faith, your service, your perseverance—and your latter deeds are greater than your first.

    • Galatians 5:6

      For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.

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); 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); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Thessalonians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Thessalonians.

Read on in 1 Thessalonians 3 →