1 Thessalonians 3

World English Bible 119 include this book

1 Therefore when we couldn’t stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone,

2 and sent Timothy, our brother and God’s servant in the Good News of Christ, to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith,

3 that no one would be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task.

4 For most certainly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even as it happened, and you know.

5 For this cause I also, when I couldn’t stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor would have been in vain.

6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you, and brought us glad news of your faith and love, and that you have good memories of us always, longing to see us, even as we also long to see you.

7 For this cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith.

8 For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.

9 For what thanksgiving can we give again to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God,

10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.

12 May the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all men, even as we also do toward you,

13 to the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

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1 place named in this chapter.

Where this was written

Corinth traditional Written soon after Timothy returned from Thessalonica, while Paul was at Corinth.

When this was written

The traditions broadly agree on this one.

Broad agreement: 48 AD–62 AD Paul
Authorship and approximate dating are accepted across traditional and critical scholarship alike.

Who ruled Rome

Emperors reigning while this book is dated. Where the traditions differ, they often fall under different rulers.

Broad agreement

Claudius 41 AD–54 AD
Expelled Jews from Rome, which is why Priscilla and Aquila were in Corinth when Paul met them.
Nero 54 AD–68 AD
The fire of Rome in 64 was followed by the first state persecution of Christians. Paul and Peter are traditionally martyred in this reign.

Elsewhere in the world

Events overlapping the period this book is dated to (48 AD–62 AD).

1070 BC–350 AD The kingdom of Kush Africa
A Nubian power on the upper Nile that ruled Egypt itself as its twenty-fifth dynasty.
500 BC–500 AD The Nazca lines South America
Vast figures drawn on the Peruvian desert, visible only from the surrounding hills.
206 BC–220 AD The Han dynasty China
Four centuries of Chinese rule contemporary with the whole of Roman expansion.
150 BC–100 AD Roman concrete and the aqueducts Rome
Hydraulic concrete let Rome build harbours, domes and aqueducts that still stand.
100 BC–550 AD Teotihuacan Mesoamerica
A city of perhaps a hundred thousand people in the valley of Mexico, with monumental pyramids.
43 AD–84 AD Rome conquers Britain Britain
Claudius invaded and the province was gradually extended to the Scottish lowlands.
27 BC–100 AD Roman road and sea network matures Rome
Consolidated roads, harbours and suppressed piracy made long-distance travel unusually safe, a precondition for the rapid spread of early Christian communities.
60 AD–61 AD Boudica's revolt Britain
The Iceni rose against Roman rule and burned three cities before being crushed.

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