1 Thessalonians 3:6

1 Thessalonians 3:6

But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:

a. NLT: But now Timothy has just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love. He reports that you always remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you.

b. NIV: But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.

    

c. YLT: And now Timotheus having come unto us from you, and having declared good news to us of your faith and love, and that ye have a good remembrance of us always, desiring much to see us, as we also to see you,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: But now that Timothy has just come back to us from [his visit to] you and has brought us the good news of [the steadfastness of] your faith and [the warmth of your] love, and [reported] how kindly you cherish a constant and affectionate remembrance of us [and that you are] longing to see us as we [are to see] you,

e. Worrell Translation: But, Timothy having just now come to us from you, and having brought us good tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us at all times, longing to see us, as we also to see you.

f. Wuest Translation: But even now, Timothy having come to us from you also brought to us the good news of your faith and divine and self-sacrificial love, and that you have a kindly remembrance of us always, passionately desiring to see us even as we also are passionately desirous  to see you.

1. “But now when Timotheus came from you unto us…”

a. But [Strong: 1161 de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. now [Strong: 737 arti ar'-tee adverb from a derivative of 142 (compare 740) through the idea of suspension; just now:--this day (hour), hence(-forth), here(-after), hither(-to), (even) now, (this) present.]

c. [when] Timothy [Strong: 5095 Timotheos tee-moth'-eh-os from 5092 and 2316; dear to God; Timotheus, a Christian:--Timotheus, Timothy.]

d. came [Strong: 2064 . erchomai er'-khom-ahee middle voice of a primary verb (used only in the present and imperfect tenses, the others being supplied by a kindred (middle voice) eleuthomai el-yoo'-thom-ahee, or (active) eltho el'-tho, which do not otherwise occur) to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively):--accompany, appear, bring, come, enter, fall out, go, grow, X light, X next, pass, resort, be set.]

e. from 575 apo apo' a primary particle; "off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative):--(X here-)after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for(-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-)on(-ce), since, with. In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.]

f. you [Strong: 5216 humon hoo-mone' genitive case of 5210; of (from or concerning) you:--ye, you, your (own, -selves).]

g. unto [Strong: 4314 pros pros a strengthened form of 4253; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated):--about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), X together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at.]

h. us [Strong: 2248 hemas hay-mas' accusative case plural of 1473; us:--our, us, we.]

1). It is not clear how long Paul stayed in Athens, and disagreement about where Paul was when he wrote 1 Thessalonians. Most believe he wrote it from Corinth, while some teach he was in Athens. Regardless, it is clear that Timothy and Silas did catch up to Paul in Athens and he sent them back to Thessalonica while he was in Athens. Paul then went to Corinth where Timothy and Silas catch up with him there and he writes the first epistle.

2. “…and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity…”

a. and [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. brought…good tidings [Strong: 2097 euaggelizo yoo-ang-ghel-id'-zo from 2095 and 32; to announce good news ("evangelize") especially the gospel:--declare, bring (declare, show) glad (good) tidings, preach (the gospel).]

c. us [Strong: 2254 hemin hay-meen' dative case plural of 1473; to (or for, with, by) us:--our, (for) us, we.]

d. of your [Strong: 5216 humon hoo-mone' genitive case of 5210; of (from or concerning) you:--ye, you, your (own, -selves).]

e. faith [Strong: 4102 pistis pis'-tis from 3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:--assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.]

f. and [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

g. charity [Strong: 26 agape ag-ah'-pay from 25; love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast:--(feast of) charity(-ably), dear, love.]

3. “…and that ye have good remembrance of us always…”

a. and [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. that [Strong: 3754 hoti hot'-ee neuter of 3748 as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.]

c. ye have [Strong: 2192 echo ekh'-o, including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; (used in certain tenses only) a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition):--be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, ]do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.]

d. good [Strong: 18 agathos ag-ath-os' a primary word; "good" (in any sense, often as noun):--benefit, good(-s, things), well.]

e. remembrance [Strong: 3417 mneia mni'-ah from 3415 or 3403; recollection; by implication, recital:--mention, remembrance.]

f. of us [Strong: 2257 hemon hay-mone' genitive case plural of 1473; of (or from) us:--our (company), us, we.]

g. always [Strong: 3842 pantote pan'-tot-eh from 3956 and 3753; every when, i.e. at all times:--alway(-s), ever(-more).]

4. “…desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:”

a. desiring greatly [Strong: 1971 epipotheo ep-ee-poth-eh'-o from 1909 and potheo (to yearn); to dote upon, i.e. intensely crave possession (lawfully or wrongfully):--(earnestly) desire (greatly), (greatly) long (after), lust.]

b. to see [Strong: 1492 eido i'-do a primary verb; used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent 3700 and 3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know:--be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) know(-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wish, wot.]

c. us [Strong: 2248 hemas hay-mas' accusative case plural of 1473; us:--our, us, we.]

d. as [Strong: 2509 kathaper kath-ap'-er from 2505 and 4007; exactly as:--(even, as well) as.]

e. we [Strong: 2249 hemeis hay-mice' nominative plural of 1473; we (only used when emphatic):--us, we (ourselves).]

f. also [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

g. [to see] you [Strong: 5209 humas hoo-mas' accusative case of 5210; you (as the objective of a verb or preposition):--ye, you (+ -ward), your (+ own).]

1). Timothy brought Paul good tidings when he came back from Thessalonica. This is probably what is mentioned in Acts 18:5

a). 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.

b). The news that Timothy and Silas brought from Thessalonica was only good. The faith and love of this new community of believers was still intact. Their remembrances of Paul and his company in their mind was only good and they greatly wanted to see them again just as much as Paul wanted to see them. Hallelujah! Glory to God!

c). The sequence of time and events probably happened this way. Paul and his company were run out of Thessalonica: Acts 17:10; after opposition arose in Berea, Paul was safely taken to Athens, while Timothy and Silas stayed in Berea: Acts 17:14; when Paul is dropped off in Athens he gives a command to those who had brought him to tell Timothy and Silas to meet him in Athens: Acts 17:15; while Paul is waiting in Athens for Timothy and Silas he preaches in the synagogue, disputes in the market place, and preaches on Mars Hill: Acts 17:16-34; after Timothy and Silas come from Berea to Athens, Paul sends Timothy and Silas to Thessalonica: 1 Thessalonians 3:1, 2; and Paul goes on to Corinth, where he tells Timothy and Silas to meet him there: Acts 18:1, and as our text says Timothy and Silas arrive from Thessalonica to Corinth to give Paul their report.