Text -- 1 Thessalonians 3:4-13 (NET)

3:4 For in fact when we were with you, we were telling you in advance that we would suffer affliction, and so it has happened, as you well know. 3:5 So when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter somehow tempted you and our toil had proven useless. 3:6 But now Timothy has come to us from you and given us the good news of your faith and love and that you always think of us with affection and long to see us just as we also long to see you! 3:7 So in all our distress and affliction, we were reassured about you, brothers and sisters, through your faith. 3:8 For now we are alive again, if you stand firm in the Lord. 3:9 For how can we thank God enough for you, for all the joy we feel because of you before our God? 3:10 We pray earnestly night and day to see you in person and make up what may be lacking in your faith. 3:11 Now may God our Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. 3:12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we do for you, 3:13 so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: 1Th 3:4

¹ tn Grk “just as it also occurred and you know.”

NET Notes: 1Th 3:5

¹ tn Or “for this reason.”

NET Notes: 1Th 3:6

¹ tn Grk “but now Timothy having come,” a subordinate clause leading to the main clause of v. 7.

² tn Grk “you have a good remembrance of us always.”

³ tn Grk “just as also we you.”

NET Notes: 1Th 3:7

¹ tn Or “for this reason.”

² tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.

NET Notes: 1Th 3:8

¹ tn Grk “because now we live,” in comparison with his feelings of dread in not knowing how they were doing (cf. 2:17-3:5).

NET Notes: 1Th 3:9

¹ tn Grk “what thanks can we render to God about you.”

² tn Grk “all the joy with which we rejoice.”

NET Notes: 1Th 3:10

¹ tn Grk “to see your face.”

NET Notes: 1Th 3:13

¹ tc ‡ Important and early witnesses (א* A D* 81 629 lat) have ἀμήν (amhn, “amen”) at the end of this benediction, while the majority of mss, including several excellent witnesses (א² B D² F G Ψ 0278 1739 1881 Ï it sy sa), lack the particle. A decision is difficult, but in light of Paul’s habit of adding the ἀμήν to his notes of praise, even in the middle of his letters (cf. Rom 9:5; 11:36; 15:33; Gal 1:5), one might expect scribes to emulate this practice. Although a decision is difficult, it is probably best to follow the shorter reading. NA²⁷ has the particle in brackets, indicating some doubts as to its authenticity.