1 Thessalonians 3:13 kjv
To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
1 Thessalonians 3:13 nkjv
so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
1 Thessalonians 3:13 niv
May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
1 Thessalonians 3:13 esv
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.
1 Thessalonians 3:13 nlt
May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.
1 Thessalonians 3 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Thess 3:13 | "so that he may strengthen your hearts until the day of our Lord Jesus Christ comes" | Isa 40:31 (Strengthening for service) |
| 1 Thess 3:13 | "in holiness" | 1 Pet 1:15-16 (Be holy because I am holy) |
| 1 Thess 3:13 | "blameless" | Eph 5:27 (Without blemish or wrinkle) |
| 1 Thess 3:13 | "before our God and Father" | Col 3:17 (Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus) |
| Phil 1:10 | "approve what is excellent, that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ" | Phil 2:15 (Shine as lights) |
| Eph 1:4 | "he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him" | Eph 5:26-27 (Washing of regeneration) |
| 1 Cor 1:8 | "He will sustain you to the end, guiltless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." | 1 Cor 15:58 (Stand firm) |
| Col 1:22 | "through death, to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him" | Heb 9:14 (Blood of Christ cleanses conscience) |
| Heb 12:10 | "for the momentary, momentary discipline of the fathers we could not correct, but he for our good, that we might share his holiness." | Heb 12:14 (Strive for peace with all, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.) |
| Jude 1:24 | "To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with great joy" | 2 Pet 3:14 (Be diligent to be found by him without spot, without blemish) |
| 1 Pet 5:10 | "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." | 1 Pet 1:13 (Prepare your minds for action) |
| Rom 16:25-26 | "Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages" | Rom 1:11 (Spiritual gift) |
| 1 Cor 1:30 | "he is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption." | Jer 23:5-6 (Righteous branch) |
| 2 Thess 2:17 | "may he comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word." | 2 Thess 3:3 (The Lord is faithful) |
| John 17:17 | "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." | John 15:3 (Already clean) |
| Acts 20:32 | "And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance that is among all those who are sanctified." | Rom 12:2 (Transformed by renewal of mind) |
| Rom 1:10 | "always in my prayers asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you." | Rom 15:32 (Come to you with joy) |
| 1 Cor 6:11 | "And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." | Tit 3:5 (Not by works of righteousness) |
| 1 Thess 4:7 | "For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness." | 1 Thess 5:23 (May your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless) |
| Eph 4:24 | "and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." | Col 3:10 (New self) |
1 Thessalonians 3 verses
1 Thessalonians 3 13 Meaning
The verse blesses the reader with a desire for their heart to be strengthened and made blameless. This strengthening is specifically intended to occur "in holiness" (en hagiosynē) before God. The ultimate goal is the unchanging presentation of believers as holy and without fault before their Father in heaven.
1 Thessalonians 3 13 Context
1 Thessalonians chapter 3 focuses on Paul's deep concern for the spiritual well-being of the Thessalonian believers. He sent Timothy to them to encourage and strengthen them amidst their persecution. Upon Timothy's return with good news about their faith and love, Paul expresses his profound joy and relief. Verse 13 naturally follows this expression of joy, offering a prayer and hope for their continued spiritual growth and steadfastness. The immediate context is Paul's pastoral affection and desire for the church's spiritual maturity leading up to the glorious return of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 3 13 Word analysis
"that": Greek: hopōs. Indicates purpose or result. The purpose of God's enabling them to have received his testimony and his previous sending of Timothy.
"he": Greek: auton. Refers to God the Father.
"may strengthen": Greek: sterixai. Aorist infinitive of sterizo, meaning to make firm, establish, or support. It signifies a divine action that solidifies and makes unwavering.
"your hearts": Greek: tas kardias hymōn. "Heart" in the biblical sense encompasses the whole inner person – mind, will, emotions, and intentions. It is the center of one's being.
"unto": Greek: eis. Preposition indicating direction towards a goal or end point.
"blameless": Greek: anenkletous. Masculine plural accusative adjective. It means without fault, irreproachable, unaccused, free from censure.
"in holiness": Greek: en hagiosynē. "Holiness" is the state of being set apart for God, consecrated, pure. It describes the quality or manner of their standing before God.
"before": Greek: katenōpion. Indicates in the presence of, or in the sight of.
"our God": Greek: tou theou hymōn. Possessive, meaning "your God," referring to the God the Thessalonians believe in.
"and Father": Greek: kai patros. Further identifies God as their Father, emphasizing their relational connection through Christ.
Words group by words-group analysis data:
- "strengthen your hearts... blameless": The strengthening of their inner being is directly linked to their blamelessness, showing that inner stability leads to outward integrity and acceptable standing before God.
- "in holiness... before our God and Father": This highlights the quality of the state (holiness) that enables them to be blameless and the presence (before God) where this blamelessness is evaluated.
1 Thessalonians 3 13 Bonus section
The desire for believers to be presented "blameless" before God connects to Old Testament sacrificial laws, where offerings had to be without blemish to be acceptable. Christ, the ultimate sacrifice, fulfills this requirement on behalf of believers. This verse also reflects the ultimate purpose of God's redemptive plan: to present the church as a spotless bride to Christ, as seen in Ephesians 5:27. The focus on the heart's strengthening is crucial, as from the heart flow the issues of life (Prov 4:23), and a strengthened heart is less susceptible to sin and doubt. This prayer is a consistent theme in Pauline writings, recognizing that sanctification is an ongoing process empowered by God, culminating in glorification.
1 Thessalonians 3 13 Commentary
This verse articulates a profound eschatological hope and present reality for believers. Paul prays that God Himself will continuously reinforce the Thessalonians' inner lives (their hearts) so that they may remain pure and without accusation. This strengthening is not merely about enduring hardship, but about maintaining a state of active holiness. The ultimate goal is their presentation before God the Father, not by their own merit, but by God’s own work of strengthening and keeping them pure. It underscores the divine initiative and sustained effort required for believers to be presented unblemished on the final day, a day tied to the certain return of Christ. It speaks to the work of the Holy Spirit in enabling believers to live out their new identity in Christ, characterized by holiness and integrity in preparation for eternal fellowship with God.