1 Thessalonians 3 9

1 Thessalonians 3:9 kjv

For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;

1 Thessalonians 3:9 nkjv

For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God,

1 Thessalonians 3:9 niv

How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?

1 Thessalonians 3:9 esv

For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God,

1 Thessalonians 3:9 nlt

How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God's presence.

1 Thessalonians 3 verses

1 Thessalonians 3 9 Meaning

This verse profoundly articulates the overflowing gratitude of the Apostle Paul, Silas, and Timothy to God for the Thessalonian believers. It is a rhetorical question that emphasizes their inability to adequately express the immense joy they experience in God's presence, stemming from the news of the Thessalonians' enduring faith and love amidst their persecutions. This joy is not a fleeting emotion but a deep, spiritual rejoicing witnessed and shared before God Himself.

1 Thessalonians 3 9 Context

This verse immediately follows Paul's profound expression of relief and comfort in 1 Thessalonians 3:7-8, where he states that he and his companions "have been comforted about you in all our distress and affliction through your faith. For now we live, if you are standing firm in the Lord." Chapter 3 describes Paul's acute anxiety over the young Thessalonian church, which he had left amidst severe persecution. His pastoral concern led him to send Timothy to check on their steadfastness. Timothy's return with a positive report, affirming their faith and love, brought immense comfort and revitalized Paul, almost metaphorically giving him life again. Verse 9 then serves as the natural response to this relief: a fervent, inexpressible thanksgiving to God. It highlights the deeply personal and spiritual bond between Paul and the believers, emphasizing that the health and steadfastness of the church were a direct source of divine joy and gratitude for the apostles.

1 Thessalonians 3 9 Word analysis

• For (γὰρ - gar): A particle of explanation or inference, indicating that what follows explains or amplifies the preceding statement of comfort and living. It connects the inability to give adequate thanks with the profound joy experienced.
• what thanksgiving (ποίους εὐχαριστίαν - poious eucharistian): "What kind of thanksgiving?" or "how great a thanksgiving?" The interrogative adjective poious highlights the superlative nature of their gratitude. Eucharistia means "gratitude," "thankfulness," "the giving of thanks," or "thanksgiving." It also relates to the Christian practice of giving thanks. Paul uses a rhetorical question to express that no human words or actions could possibly be adequate to reciprocate the joy and comfort God had given them through the Thessalonians.
• can we return (δυνάμεθα ἀνταποδοῦναι - dynametha antapodounai): "Are we able to repay?" or "can we give back?" Dynametha (from dynamai) implies ability or power. Antapodounai (from antapodidōmi) means "to pay back," "recompense," "requite," or "return." It suggests a reciprocal action, but here, the immensity of the divine favor makes adequate return impossible for human effort, even in thanksgiving. It underscores the overwhelming nature of their gratitude.
• to God (τῷ Θεῷ - tō Theō): The direct recipient and ultimate source of their thanksgiving and the spiritual growth that caused it. This highlights the vertical dimension of Paul's joy—it is God-centered.
• for you (περὶ ὑμῶν - peri hymōn): "Concerning you" or "on account of you." The beneficiaries of Paul's joy, emphasizing that their spiritual state is the cause.
• for all the joy (ἐπὶ πάσῃ τῇ χαρᾷ - epi pasē tē chara): "For all the joy" or "over all the joy." Pasē means "all" or "every," signifying the completeness and abundance of the joy. Chara refers to deep-seated, spiritual joy, often associated with the presence or work of God, distinct from mere happiness. The preposition epi (here with the dative) can indicate the basis or occasion for the joy.
• that we feel (ἧς χαιρόμεν - hēs chairmen): "Of which we rejoice." The verb chairmen is related to the noun chara. This is an active and personal experience of rejoicing that is consciously felt and expressed by the apostolic team. It's not a mere theoretical acknowledgement of their joy but an overwhelming internal experience.
• in your presence (ἐφ' ὑμῖν - eph' hymīn): Literally "over you" or "concerning you." The phrase eph' hymīn with the dative can denote "because of you" or "concerning you" rather than physical presence. The joy is "upon" or "concerning" them; it arises directly from their spiritual state and existence as a church. It implies that the joy is for them, focused on them.
• before our God (ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν - emprosthen tou Theou hēmōn): "In the presence of our God." This is a crucial theological statement. It signifies that this joy and thanksgiving are experienced in a transparent, accountable, and holy way before God Himself. It means their joy is not merely human sentiment but has divine recognition and validation. It roots their profound emotion in the very sanctuary of God's presence, underscoring the spiritual purity and truthfulness of their feelings. It is joy felt with God as the witness and before whom they stand accountable.

Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis

• "For what thanksgiving can we return to God" This phrase serves as a rhetorical lamentation born out of overflowing joy, not sorrow. It communicates an inexpressible depth of gratitude, acknowledging God as the ultimate benefactor who enabled the Thessalonians' faith and consequently the apostles' joy. It positions human capacity for thanksgiving as utterly insufficient in comparison to God's abundant goodness and the spiritual fruit He yields.
• "for you, for all the joy that we feel in your presence" This section pinpoints the immediate cause of their profound gratitude: the Thessalonian believers and the abundant joy they inspire. The "all" emphasizes the complete, pervasive nature of this joy. "In your presence" underscores that the very existence and spiritual standing of the Thessalonians are the wellspring of this joy. It is a joy derived from a living, active spiritual relationship, deeply connecting the well-being of the flock to the pastoral heart of the apostles.
• "before our God?" This final segment provides the divine context for the entire expression. The joy is experienced in a holy, God-attested realm. It’s not a private or casual emotion, but one held in the sacred space of God's awareness and approval. It suggests a sense of transparent communion with God where their gratitude is offered and validated. This signifies the depth and authenticity of their joy, grounding it in a divine witness and making God both the recipient of the thanks and the shared audience of the joy. It points to a fellowship not only between the apostles and believers but also, fundamentally, with God Himself.

1 Thessalonians 3 9 Bonus section

This verse reflects a crucial aspect of Christian ministry: the deep spiritual reciprocity between those who share the gospel and those who receive it. The minister's joy is inextricably linked to the spiritual health of the flock. This intense bond also highlights that such joy, born out of seeing God's work in others, transcends any personal trials or afflictions the ministers themselves might be enduring (as indicated by "all our distress and affliction" in v. 7). The expression "before our God" elevates this joy from a merely human emotion to a divinely acknowledged and shared experience, affirming the sincerity of Paul's heart and God's pleasure in the fruit of the gospel. It implies that true Christian gratitude and joy are not merely from God but also returned to God as an offering, demonstrating the holistic and God-centered nature of Paul's apostleship.

1 Thessalonians 3 9 Commentary

1 Thessalonians 3:9 distills Paul’s profound emotional and spiritual state upon hearing Timothy’s positive report about the Thessalonians. Far from being a mere sentiment, Paul’s joy is a spiritual phenomenon, deeply rooted in their shared fellowship in Christ and witnessed "before our God." This rhetorical question highlights the utter inadequacy of human language to capture the depth of his thanksgiving for the spiritual progress of the believers. It is a joy born from seeing God's grace powerfully at work in others, specifically through their enduring faith and love amidst adversity. This verse serves as a powerful testament to the spiritual solidarity in the body of Christ, illustrating that the steadfastness of one part brings joy and thankfulness to another, with God as the ultimate object of all praise and gratitude. It embodies the essence of pastoral heart, where the well-being and growth of the flock are inextricably linked to the pastor’s own spiritual vitality and capacity for worship.