(Tap footnote to read it. Old Testament quotations are underlined. "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.1"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love". However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings – agapé centers on choice and behavior. It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings. (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".) Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé". Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing. It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. )
Timothy’s Visit and Report
- Therefore, enduring it no longer, we were pleased to be left behind in Athens alone.
- And we sent Timothy – our brother and fellow worker of God in the gospel of the Anointed – to firmly strengthen you and to encourage you for the sake of your faith,
- so no one is shaken by these tribulations. For you yourselves have known that we are destined for this.
- For even when we were with you, we were forewarning you that we’re about to suffer tribulation, just as it also came to pass, and you have known this.
- Enduring it no longer because of this, I also sent Timothy to ascertain your faith, lest somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor might become worthless.
- But now, Timothy came from you to us and announced to us the good news of your faith and ^love, and that you always have a good recollection of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you.
- Because of this brothers, we were encouraged about you in all our distress and tribulation through your faith.
- because now we live if you stand firm in the Lord.
- For what gratitude can we give to God about you on account of all the joy with which we rejoice before our God because of you,
- greatly imploring night and day for us to see your face and to supply the insufficiencies in your faith.
- And may our God and Father Himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you.
- And may the Lord make you abound and overflow in ^love for one another and for all men, just as we also do for you,
- in order to strengthen and establish1“strengthen and establish” is one word in Greek, which can mean either depending on the context. It literally means to “fix firmly”, with the idea of either setting something up in a firm position (establish) or adding support to make it firm (strengthen). your hearts as blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. [Amen]
Next: 1 Thessalonians chapter 4
Previous: 1 Thessalonians chapter 2
Up: The Book of 1 Thessalonians
Up: BOS Bible Index
Note: If you think a word, phrase, or passage could be better translated - or is wrong - then Please Say Something. This is an open source Bible that's accountable to all Christians. See this link for details.
Legal Use: Please feel free to quote the BOS Bible, but follow the guidelines on the Legal Use page when doing so. They are easy and mostly common sense.