1 Thessalonians 3:1

CONTEXT-Thanksgiving. Narration. Appeal. 

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3:10

2 We constantly thank God for all of you, while we remember you in our prayers. 3 We persistently remember in the presence of God, our Father, your work energized by believing and your hard labor motivated by love and your patience sustained by hope for our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 We realize the circumstances surrounding your election, brothers, loved by God, 5 That our teaching of the gospel came to you, not only in word, but also in the power of holy spirit and with complete conviction. And you yourselves realize what manner of conduct we had among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the lord, having initially received the Word during times of much mental pressure with the joy of holy spirit, 7 So that you became a model for all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 From you the Word of the Lord echoed loudly, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your believing toward God has been spread abroad, to such an extent that we need not say any more. 9 Those who have heard about us from you constantly report how we opened up your area and how you turned to God from idols in order to serve the living and true God 10 And to await His Son [to return] from heaven, whom He raised from among the dead — Jesus, our rescuer from the coming wrath. Ch 2   1 Brothers, you yourselves know
how we opened up your area, that it was not in vain. 2 On the contrary after we previously suffered and were injuriously insulted at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak the gospel of God to you in the midst of such a great struggle. 3 Our exhortation [to you] was based neither on error nor [spiritual] impurity nor deceitful enticement, 4 But as we were approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please men, but God Who proves our hearts. 5 At no time did we use a flattering word, as you know, nor did we use a cover-up for greedy desire (God is witness). 6 We sought glory neither from men nor from you nor from others, though we might have exerted our authority as the apostles of Christ in a burdensome manner. 7 We were gentle among you as a nursing mother tenderly embraces her own dear children. 8 So, as we tenderly cared for you, we were delighted to impart to you, not only the gospel of God, but our own lives also, because you were dear to us. 9 Brothers, you remember our hard work and distressing labor. Working night and day so we would not burden any of you, we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You and God are witnesses of how we conducted ourselves devotedly, righteously, and unblamably among you who believe. 11 You know how we, as a father with his own dear children,
encouraged and comforted and charged each one of you individually 12 To walk worthily of God Who continuously calls you [to walk]
with respect to His glorious kingdom. 13 Because of this, we constantly thank God that when you accepted the Word of God which you heard from us, you did not receive it as the word of men, but as it truly is, God’s Word, which is energized in you as you believe. 14 Brothers, you became imitators [in endurance] of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus, in that the same things you endured from your own countrymen, they also have endured from the Judeans, 15 Who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and drove us out. And they are highly displeasing to God and adverse to all men. 16 They hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved; and in so doing, they totally fill up their [lives with] sins. But the wrath [of God] has come upon them unto the end [of times]. 17 Now brothers, since we were orphaned from you for a brief time in presence, not in heart, we were extremely diligent and desirous to see your face. 18 So we desired to come to you. (Indeed, I Paul desired to come to you again and again, but Satan obstructed me.) 19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of which we are proud? Isn’t it you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 20 You are our glory and joy. Ch 3    1 Wherefore, when we could not stand it anymore, we felt it was right for me to abide in Athens
alone 2 And to send Timothy, our brother, a minister and fellow laborer of God in the gospel pertaining to Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your believing, 3 So no one would be swayed by these pressures of life. You know we are bound to have these.
4 When we were with you, we told you that the enduring of pressures was imminent; and so it came to pass as you know. 5 Because of this, when I too could no longer stand it, I sent to know your believing, lest the tempter had tempted you and our hard work should have been in vain. 6 But now Timothy has just returned to us from you and reported the good news of your believing and love for us, that you
remember us always in a good way, desiring to see us even as we also desire to see you. 7 For this reason, brothers, during all our pressures and intense distresses, we are encouraged about you because of your believing. 8 And now we have a new lease on life as you stand firm in [the service of] the Lord. 9 How can we ever thank God enough for you, for all the joyful rejoicing we have before our God
because of you? 10 We pray exceedingly night and day to see you face-to-face and to provide what is lacking in your believing.

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The Structure of 1 Thessalonians (from E.W Bullinger's Companion Bible)

A) Epistolary. Introduction. 1:1

    B)  A | Thanksgiving. Narration. Appeal.  1:2- 3:10

               B | Prayer. 3:11-13

    B)  A | Exhortation. Instruction. 4:1-5:22

               B | Prayer 5:23-25

A) Epistolary. Conclusion. 5:26-28

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