1: Wherefore when we could no longer forbear we thought it good to be
left at Athens alone 2: And sent Timotheos
our brother and diakonos of God and
our fellow-laborer in the gospel of Christ to establish you and to comfort you
concerning your faith 3: [That] none should be moved by these
afflictions for yourselves know that we are appointed to this 4: For truly
when we were with you we told you before that [you] would suffer tribulation even as it came to pass and you beheld [it] 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 labor be in vain[1] 6:
But now when Timotheos came from you to
us and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity and that you 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 [you] live if you 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 sake's before our God 10: Night and day
praying exceedingly that we might see your face and might complete that which
is lacking in your faith 11: Now himself the God and our Father and our
Lord Jesus Christ direct our way to you 12: And the Lord make you to
increase and abound in love one toward another and toward all even as we toward you 13: To the end he may
establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before (ton Theon) God and our Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ with all his saints[2]
[1] 1 Thessalonians 3:5, is referenced [in
tandem with the “if ye continue…” verses and also Hebrews 6:4-8] by
denominations that do not teach the doctrine of eternal security (once-saved-always-saved).
[2] 1 Thessalonians 3:13 is a witness to the doctrine of the pre-tribulational
rapture, which teaches that the 2nd Coming of Christ [his physical return to the
earth] with his saints, is a completely separate event [separated
by a period of at least seven years, possibly more] from the previous resurrection
of the dead in Christ and the harpazo
snatching up of the living, rapture, where Christ comes in the air for
his saints 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, and returns to Heaven with them,
where they will stand before Judgement Seat of Christ to be rewarded for the
things done while still in their earthly bodies 2 Corinthians 5:10.
This is not a judgement to determine salvation. All who stand before the Judgement
Seat of Christ, are already saved. Much later, those who do not belong to
Christ will be raised to stand before him at the fearful Great White Throne Judgement
Revelation 20.
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