1 Thessalonians 3:2
New International Version
We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,

New Living Translation
and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith,

English Standard Version
and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith,

Berean Standard Bible
We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,

Berean Literal Bible
and we sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker of God in the gospel of Christ, in order to strengthen and to encourage you concerning your faith,

King James Bible
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:

New King James Version
and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,

New American Standard Bible
and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you for the benefit of your faith,

NASB 1995
and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith,

NASB 1977
and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith,

Legacy Standard Bible
and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith,

Amplified Bible
and so we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s servant in [spreading] the good news of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you [exhorting, comforting, and establishing you] in regard to your faith,

Christian Standard Bible
And we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you concerning your faith,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you concerning your faith,

American Standard Version
and sent Timothy, our brother and God's minister in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith;

Contemporary English Version
and send our friend Timothy to you. He works with us as God's servant and preaches the good news about Christ. We wanted him to make you strong in your faith and to encourage you.

English Revised Version
and sent Timothy, our brother and God's minister in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
we sent our brother Timothy to you. He serves God by spreading the Good News about Christ. His mission was to strengthen and encourage you in your faith

Good News Translation
while we sent Timothy, our brother who works with us for God in preaching the Good News about Christ. We sent him to strengthen you and help your faith,

International Standard Version
and send Timothy, our brother who works with us for God in the gospel of the Messiah, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,

Majority Standard Bible
We sent Timothy, our brother and minister for God, and our fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,

NET Bible
We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and encourage you about your faith,

New Heart English Bible
and sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the Good News of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith;

Webster's Bible Translation
And sent Timothy, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow-laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

Weymouth New Testament
and sent Timothy our brother and God's minister in the service of Christ's Good News, that he might help you spiritually and encourage you in your faith;

World English Bible
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,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and sent Timotheus—our brother, and a servant of God, and our fellow-workman in the good news of the Christ—to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith,

Berean Literal Bible
and we sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker of God in the gospel of Christ, in order to strengthen and to encourage you concerning your faith,

Young's Literal Translation
and did send Timotheus -- our brother, and a ministrant of God, and our fellow-workman in the good news of the Christ -- to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith,

Smith's Literal Translation
And sent Timothy, our brother, and servant of God, and our coworker in the good news of Christ, in order to make you firm, and comfort you for your faith
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And we sent Timothy, our brother, and the minister of God in the gospel of Christ, to confirm you and exhort you concerning your faith:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And we sent Timothy, our brother and a minister of God in the Gospel of Christ, to confirm you and to exhort you, on behalf of your faith,

New American Bible
and sent Timothy, our brother and co-worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,

New Revised Standard Version
and we sent Timothy, our brother and co-worker for God in proclaiming the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you for the sake of your faith,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And send Ti-mo’the-us, our brother, a minister of God, and our helper in the gospel of Christ, to sustain you and comfort you concerning your faith:

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And we sent Timotheus our brother to you, a Minister of God and our helper in The Good News of The Messiah, that he might strengthen you and inquire of you concerning your faith,
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
and we sent Timothy our brother and minister of God in the gospel of the Christ, in order that he might strengthen and comfort you with respect to your faith,

Godbey New Testament
and we sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God in the gospel of Christ, in order to establish you, and exhort you concerning your faith;

Haweis New Testament
and sent Timothy our brother, and a minister of God, and our fellow-labourer in the gospel of Christ, that he might stablish you, and comfort you concerning your faith:

Mace New Testament
a minister of God, and our collegue in preaching the gospel of Christ, that by establishing you in the faith, and by his exhortations,

Weymouth New Testament
and sent Timothy our brother and God's minister in the service of Christ's Good News, that he might help you spiritually and encourage you in your faith;

Worrell New Testament
and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God in the Gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to exhort you concerning your faith;

Worsley New Testament
and sent Timothy our brother, and a minister of God, and our fellow-labourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you concerning your faith;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Timothy's Visit
1So when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3so that none of you would be shaken by these trials. For you know that we are destined for this.…

Cross References
Acts 16:1-3
Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father. / The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. / Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, so he took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

Philippians 2:19-22
Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I learn how you are doing. / I have nobody else like him who will genuinely care for your needs. / For all the others look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. ...

1 Corinthians 4:17
That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach everywhere in every church.

2 Timothy 1:2
To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Acts 19:22
He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed for a time in the province of Asia.

2 Corinthians 1:19
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in Him it has always been “Yes.”

Romans 16:21
Timothy, my fellow worker, sends you greetings, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my fellow countrymen.

1 Timothy 1:2
To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Timothy 4:11
Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is useful to me in the ministry.

Colossians 1:7
You learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,

Acts 20:4
Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.

2 Corinthians 8:23
As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you. As for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

1 Corinthians 16:10-11
If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, just as I am. / No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he can return to me, for I am expecting him along with the brothers.

2 Timothy 3:10-11
You, however, have observed my teaching, my conduct, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my perseverance, / my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.

Acts 18:5
And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.


Treasury of Scripture

And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

Timotheus.

Acts 16:1
Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:

Acts 17:14,15
And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still…

Acts 18:5
And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

our brother.

Romans 16:21
Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.

1 Corinthians 4:17
For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

1 Corinthians 16:10,11,12
Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do

to establish.

1 Thessalonians 3:13
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.

Acts 14:22,23
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God…

Acts 16:5
And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Jump to Previous
Christ Christ's Comfort Confirm Encourage Establish Exhort Faith Fellow Fellow-Laborer Fellowlabourer Fellow-Workman Glad God's Good Gospel Help Minister Ministrant News Servant Service Spiritually Spreading Strength Tidings Timotheus Timothy Worker
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Christ Christ's Comfort Confirm Encourage Establish Exhort Faith Fellow Fellow-Laborer Fellowlabourer Fellow-Workman Glad God's Good Gospel Help Minister Ministrant News Servant Service Spiritually Spreading Strength Tidings Timotheus Timothy Worker
1 Thessalonians 3
1. Paul testifies his great love to the Thessalonians,
5. partly by sending Timothy unto them to strengthen and comfort them;
7. partly by rejoicing in their well-doing;
10. and partly by praying for them, and desiring a safe coming unto them.














We sent Timothy
The act of sending Timothy highlights the apostolic practice of mentorship and delegation. Timothy, a trusted companion of Paul, is often seen as a spiritual son to him. The Greek word for "sent" (πέμπω, pempō) implies a purposeful mission. This reflects the early church's commitment to nurturing and supporting new believers, ensuring they remain steadfast in their faith.

our brother
Referring to Timothy as "our brother" emphasizes the familial nature of the early Christian community. The Greek word "ἀδελφός" (adelphos) signifies a close relationship, not just by blood but by shared faith. This term underscores the unity and equality among believers, transcending social and cultural barriers.

and God’s fellow worker
This phrase elevates Timothy's role, showing that his work is not merely human effort but a divine collaboration. The Greek term "συνεργός" (synergos) means co-worker or collaborator. It reflects the belief that Christian ministry is a partnership with God, where human efforts are empowered by divine grace.

in the gospel of Christ
The "gospel" (εὐαγγέλιον, euangelion) is the good news of Jesus Christ, central to Christian faith. This phrase indicates that Timothy's mission is rooted in spreading and reinforcing the message of salvation through Christ. It highlights the transformative power of the gospel, which is the foundation of the church's mission.

to strengthen
The Greek word "στηρίζω" (stērizō) means to make firm or establish. Timothy's role was to fortify the Thessalonians' faith, ensuring they remain unshaken by trials. This reflects the pastoral concern for believers' spiritual stability, a recurring theme in Paul's letters.

and encourage you
The term "encourage" (παρακαλέω, parakaleō) involves exhortation, comfort, and urging. It suggests a proactive effort to uplift and motivate the Thessalonian believers. Encouragement is a vital aspect of Christian fellowship, providing support and hope in times of difficulty.

in your faith
The focus on "faith" (πίστις, pistis) underscores its centrality in the Christian life. Faith is not just belief but trust and reliance on God. Timothy's mission was to nurture this faith, ensuring it grows and matures amidst challenges. This reflects the ongoing journey of faith, requiring continual support and reinforcement.

(2) Sent.--It may possibly mean that a message was despatched to him at Ber?a, ordering him to go, but is far more naturally understood if Timothy were at Athens at the time.

And minister . . .--The text here, according to the judgment of most of the best editors (though Tischendorf in his last edition has modified his opinion), is interpolated, and the verse should run: "our brother, and God's fellow-worker in the gospel of Christ." Timothy being a person so well known at Thessalonica, it is difficult to see why he should be thus particularised, unless he was the bearer of the letter, and St. Paul wished to insist upon their paying him due deference in spite of his youth.

To establish, perhaps in the sense of perfecting their organisation.

To comfort is here equivalent to "to encourage."

Verse 2. - And sent Timotheus. This was a great act of self-sacrifice on the part of Paul; because to be without an assistant and fellow-laborer in the gospel in such a city as Athens, the very center and strong hold of heathenism, full of temples and idols, must necessarily have brought upon him many discomforts; and yet his anxiety for the Thessalonians overcame all motives of personal convenience. Our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow-laborer. The reading of manuscripts here varies. Some important manuscripts read, "our brother and fellow-worker with God" - a phrase which is elsewhere employed by the apostle: "for we are laborers together with God" (1 Corinthians 3:9). Retaining, however, the reading of the text, Paul here calls Timothy his brothel expressing his esteem and fraternal affection for him; "a minister of God," expressing Timothy's official position and the honor conferred on him by Christ; and his "fellow-laborer," expressing his laborious work in preaching the gospel, and reminding the Thessalonians of his labors among them. Different reasons have been assigned for this eulogy pronounced by Paul on Timothy. Some suppose that it was to show how eagerly he consulted the welfare of the Thessalonians, by sending to them a person of such importance and of such use to himself as Timothy (Calvin); others think that it was to recommend Timothy to the favorable regard of the Thessalonians in the absence of himself (Chrysostom); but it appears to be the natural outburst of affection for his favorite disciple. In the gospel of Christ. Timothy had labored with Paul and Silas in the publication of the gospel at Thessalonica, and was consequently well known to the Thessalonians, and favorably regarded by them. To establish you, and to comfort you; or rather, to exhort you, as the matter of exhortation follows. Concerning your faith; in order to the continuance and furtherance of your faith. The purpose of the mission of Timothy; namely, to confirm the Thessalonians in the faith, to exhort them to perseverance in Christianity, notwithstanding the persecutions to which they were exposed.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
We sent
ἐπέμψαμεν (epempsamen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 3992: To send, transmit, permit to go, put forth.

Timothy,
Τιμόθεον (Timotheon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5095: Timothy, a Christian of Lystra, helper of Paul. From time and theos; dear to God; Timotheus, a Christian.

our
ἡμῶν (hēmōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

brother
ἀδελφὸν (adelphon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

God’s
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

fellow worker
συνεργὸν (synergon)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4904: A fellow worker, associate, helper. From a presumed compound of sun and the base of ergon; a co-laborer, i.e. Coadjutor.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

gospel
εὐαγγελίῳ (euangeliō)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2098: From the same as euaggelizo; a good message, i.e. The gospel.

of Christ,
Χριστοῦ (Christou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.

to
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

strengthen
στηρίξαι (stērixai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 4741: From a presumed derivative of histemi; to set fast, i.e. to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or to confirm.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

encourage
παρακαλέσαι (parakalesai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 3870: From para and kaleo; to call near, i.e. Invite, invoke.

you
ὑμᾶς (hymas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

in
ὑπὲρ (hyper)
Preposition
Strong's 5228: Gen: in behalf of; acc: above.

your
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

faith,
πίστεως (pisteōs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 4102: Faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.


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NT Letters: 1 Thessalonians 3:2 And sent Timothy our brother and God's (1 Thess. 1 Thes. 1Th iTh i Th)
1 Thessalonians 3:1
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