Apostolic Prayer 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

ESV 1 Thessalonians 3:6 ¶ But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you-- 7 for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. 8 For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? 11 ¶ Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.


Beale outlines this as follows:

Faith is encouraged when others endure trials 3:6-10

Witherington III & Marshall on 3:6-13
Christian growth is not produced automatically by divine grace, so that the believer needs to make no effort, but rather the believer must be encouraged to show faith and love. So Paul can both pray to God for his converts and thank him for their spiritual progress and also urge them to grow in their faith and express delight when they respond to his urging. Paul is not suggesting however that the Thessalonians have defects in their faith, only that they have deficiiencies which need to be supplied. Their undrestanding needs deepening and their adherence to core Christian values needs to be strengthened.


Pray that others be strengthened to endure the last judgment 3:11-13

Faith & Demonstrated love


How to pray for one another:

1) Pray for fellowship to happen. Don't take it for granted. Notice that Satan hinders believers getting together. 2:18

2) Pray for demonstrated love to happen between believers in the church.

3) Pray for holiness in the lives of one another.

4) Pray for an awareness and an eagerness for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ!