1 Thessalonians 3:3

Contextual Overview

¹We could not come to you, but it was very hard to wait any longer. So we decided to send Timothy to you and stay in Athens alone. Timothy is our brother. He works with us for God to tell people the Good News about Christ. We sent Timothy to strengthen and encourage you in your faith. ¹ Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, ¹ Wherfore sence we coulde no lenger forbeare it pleased vs to remayne at Athens alone ¹ Therefore, when we couldn't stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone, ¹ Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it best to be left behind, alone at Athens, ¹ When we could not wait any longer, we decided it was best to stay in Athens alone ¹ Therefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone; ¹ Wherefore, when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; ¹ Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, ¹ Therefore, when we couldn't stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

moved: Psalms 112:6, Acts 2:25, Acts 20:24, Acts 21:13, Romans 5:3, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Ephesians 3:13, Philippians 1:28, Colossians 1:23, 2 Thessalonians 1:4, 2 Timothy 1:8, 1 Peter 4:12-14, Revelation 2:10, Revelation 2:13

we are: 1 Thessalonians 5:9, Matthew 10:16-18, Matthew 24:9, Matthew 24:10, Luke 21:12, John 15:19-21, John 16:2, John 16:33, Acts 9:16, Acts 14:22, Acts 20:23, Acts 21:11, Acts 21:13, Romans 8:35-37, 1 Corinthians 4:9, 2 Timothy 3:11, 2 Timothy 3:12, 1 Peter 2:21, 1 Peter 4:12

Reciprocal: Numbers 21:4 - the soul Job 23:14 - appointed Job 29:25 - one that Psalms 34:19 - Many Psalms 66:12 - through Proverbs 27:17 - so Ecclesiastes 2:20 - General Matthew 6:34 - Sufficient Matthew 16:24 - If Mark 4:17 - when Luke 9:44 - these Luke 16:25 - likewise Luke 21:13 - General John 14:1 - not John 14:2 - if Acts 13:43 - persuaded Acts 16:40 - they comforted 1 Corinthians 4:17 - I sent 2 Corinthians 6:4 - afflictions 2 Corinthians 8:2 - in Colossians 1:11 - unto 2 Thessalonians 2:2 - shaken 1 Peter 5:9 - the same

Cross-References

Genesis 3:12
The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate."

Genesis 3:12
And the man said, The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.

Genesis 3:12
The man said, "You gave this woman to me and she gave me fruit from the tree, so I ate it."

Genesis 3:12
The man said, "The woman whom you gave me, she gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate it."

Genesis 3:12
And the man said, The woman, whom thou gavest [to be] with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.

Genesis 3:12
The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate."

Genesis 3:12
And the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me—she gave me [fruit] from the tree, and I ate it."

Genesis 3:12
And Adam seide, The womman which thou yauest felowe to me, yaf me of the tre, and Y eet.

Genesis 3:12
and the man saith, `The woman whom Thou didst place with me -- she hath given to me of the tree -- and I do eat.'

Genesis 3:12
And the man answered, "The woman whom You gave me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

That no man should be moved by these afflictions,.... Which the apostle endured for the sake of preaching the Gospel among them, and which he feared might be a means of troubling their minds, of shaking their faith, and moving them from the hope of the Gospel; for though none of these things moved him, who was an old soldier of Christ, and used to hardness, and an apostle of Christ; yet these were young converts, and not used to such things, and therefore might be staggered at them, and be offended, as stony ground hearers are; and though the apostle hoped better things of them, yet was he concerned for them, that no one among them might be unhinged by them, or succumb under them:

for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto; by the immutable decree of God: afflictions, as to their nature, measure, and duration, are appointed for the people of God, and they are appointed for them; this is the case of all who will live godly in Christ Jesus, and especially of Gospel ministers; of which these saints had been apprized by the apostle, and therefore was nothing new, unheard of, and unexpected, or to be looked upon as a strange thing; and seeing this was the appointment of heaven, and the will of God, they should be patiently endured, and quietly submitted to.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

That no man should be moved - The word rendered “moved” (σαίνω sainō) occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It properly means to wag, to move to and fro, as of dogs which wag their tails in fondness (Hom. Od. K. 216. AEl. A. N. 10:7. Ovid. 14:258); then to caress, to fawn upon, to flatter; then to move or waver in mind - as from fear; to dread, to tremble. See Passow and Wetstein. Here the sense is, to be so moved or agitated by fear, or by the terror of persecution, as to forsake their religion. The object of sending Timothy was, that they might not be thus moved, but that amidst all opposition they might adhere steadfastly to their religion.

These afflictions - See the notes at 1 Thessalonians 2:14.

For yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto - It is not quite certain whether by the word “we” here the apostle refers to himself; or to himself and the Thessalonians; or to Christians in general. On either supposition what he says is true, and either would meet the case. It would be most to the purpose, however, to suppose that he means to state the general idea that all Christians are exposed to persecution and could not hope to avoid it. It would then appear that the Thessalonians had partaken only of the common lot. Still there may have been a special reference to the fact that Paul and his fellow-laborers there were subjected to trials; and if this be the reference, then the idea is, that the Thessalonians should not be “moved” by their trials, for even their teachers were not exempt. Even their enemies could not say that the apostle and his co-workers were impostors, for they had persevered in preaching the gospel when they knew that these trials were coming upon them. The phrase, “we are appointed thereunto,” means that such was the divine arrangement. No one who professed Christianity could hope to be exempted from trial, for it was the common lot of all believers; compare 1 Corinthians 4:9 note; 2 Timothy 3:12 note.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Thessalonians 3:3. That no man should be moved — That is, caused to apostatize from Christianity.

We are appointed thereunto. — εις τουτο κειμεθα. We are exposed to this, we lie open to such, they are unavoidable in the present state of things; as the Latins say, sic est sors nostra, "this is our lot." God appoints nothing of this kind, but he permits it: for he has made man a free agent.