1 Thessalonians 3

(1)  Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
(2)  And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
(3)  That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
(4)  For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
(5)  For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
(6)  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:
(7)  Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
(8)  For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
(9)  For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
(10)  Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
(11)  Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.
(12)  And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
(13)  To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

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Study Questions

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1. About what was it that Paul could “no longer forbear”? Verse 1. (See 1 Thessalonians 2:17-18)

2. Where was Paul when he sent someone to check on the Thessalonians? Verse 1.

3. Who was sent to Thessalonica? Verse 2.

4. What two things was the one sent to do for the Thessalonians? Verse 2.

5. Why did the Thessalonians need what Paul sent the man to do? Verse 3.

6. Unto what are we appointed? Verse 3.

7. When did Paul make a prediction about the Thessalonians? Verse 4.

8. What did Paul say would happen as a result of the Thessalonians obedience to the gospel? Did it come to pass? Verse 4.

9. What was Paul’s main concern about the Thessalonians when he sent someone to visit them? Verse 5.

10. How would it have affected Paul’s work if they had yielded to the tempter? Verse 5.

11. Where was Paul when Timothy and Silas came to him? Verse 6. (See Acts 18:4)

12. What four things did Timothy report about the Thessalonians? Verse 6.

13. How did Timothy’s report affect Paul’s feelings? Verse 7.

14. What was it about the Thessalonians that made Paul feel better in his affliction and distress? Verse 7.

15. What did Paul encourage the Thessalonians to do in the face of trials? Verse 8.

16. What would be the opposite of Paul’s statement? Verse 8.

17. For what did Paul wish to give thanks adequately to God? Verse 9.

18. For what two things did Paul pray for concerning the Thessalonians? Verse 10.

19. To whom did Paul address his prayer? Verse 11.

20. When did the Lord answer Paul’s prayer and direct their way back to the Thessalonians? Verse 11.

21. In what did Paul pray that the Lord would make the Thessalonians increase and abound? Verse 12.

22. Toward whom was this increase to be directed? Verse 12.

23. What was it that Paul prayed would be established “unblameable in holiness” before God? Verse 13.

24. Who are the “saints” or “holy ones” (American Standard Version) who will come with Jesus? Verse 13. (See Jude 1:14 and 2 Thessalonians 1:7)