1 Thessalonians 3
The full text of 1 Thessalonians 3 in the Trinity Bible Version — clear modern English, translated from the original Greek. Free to read.
1 So when we could bear it no longer, we decided to be left behind in Athens alone,
2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
3 so that no one would be shaken by these troubles. For you yourselves know that this is what we are destined for.
4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you we would be persecuted, and so it happened, as you know.
5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, afraid that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor had come to nothing.
6 But Timothy has just now come back to us from you, bringing good news of your faith and love. He told us that you always remember us warmly and long to see us, just as we long to see you.
7 For this reason, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and affliction we were encouraged about you through your faith.
8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.
9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we feel because of you before our God?
10 Night and day we pray most earnestly to see you face to face and to supply what is lacking in your faith.
11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, clear the way for us to come to you.
12 And may the Lord make your love increase and overflow for one another and for everyone, just as ours does for you.
13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy before our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
Translation notes (4)
- 1 Thessalonians 3:2a Some manuscripts read simply 'servant of God' or 'fellow worker' here. However, the reading 'God's coworker,' from the Greek synergon tou theou, is well attested and is followed in this translation.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:3a The Greek word sainesthai, translated as 'shaken,' is a rare word. It may mean 'unsettled, lured away,' or 'fawned upon/beguiled,' but the basic sense is being moved off course by hardship.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:6a The phrase 'brought good news' translates the Greek verb euangelisamenou, which is related to the word 'gospel.' This is the only place Paul uses this verb to refer to news that is not the gospel itself.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:13a The Greek phrase ton hagion autou, translated as 'His holy ones,' may mean angels or the assembled people of God; the Greek does not specify which.
About this translation
The Trinity Bible Version (TBV) is Trinity Bible's own modern English translation, worked directly from the original Greek and honest to the earliest manuscripts. It was completed in 2026 — the most modern English Bible translation — and is exclusive to Trinity Bible. Every chapter, including all of 1 Thessalonians, is free to read here on the web.
Continue: 1 Thessalonians 4 → · All of 1 Thessalonians · About the TBV · Read 1 Thessalonians 3 in the KJV
Get the app: iOS · Android · Trinity Plus