In this article, I will first interpret 1 Thessalonians 3:11–13, including discerning the main point and providing an outline of the passage. Then I will show how the passage can be applied to modern Christians, while concluding with a prayer that is based on the passage.
1 Thessalonians 3:11–13
“11Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13so 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 3:11–13
Interpretation of 1 Thessalonians 3:11–13
Topic and Main Point
The topic of 1 Thessalonians 3:11–13 is Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy’s petition to God and Jesus. We know this is the topic because of the petitionary language used throughout the passage. The three main verbs in 1 Thessalonians 3:11–13 (to direct, to cause to increase, and to cause to abound) are all in the optative mood. Optatives are a somewhat rare grammatical mood in the New Testament (appx 68–69). They are frequently used in prayers. Thus, the grammatical mood of the verbs in 1 Thessalonians 3:11–13 helps the reader identify the passage as a prayer. Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy are no longer writing about their prayers; they are actually praying.
The optative carries two nuances with it when it is used in a prayer to the God of the Bible.
- It is a polite way to make a request. The apostles are not demanding anything of God. They are, instead, making their petition in a polite way. Daniel Wallace gives the following modern example: “I might, for example, ask my wife, ‘Do you think you might be able to help me with the dishes tonight?’ This is much less blunt than ‘Please, help me with the dishes!’ But the response expected from either request would be the same” (Daniel Wallace, Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics, 481).
- Expectation. The one who makes a request or petition from the God of the Bible in the optative mood expects God to answer it. Thus, the apostles are praying to God expecting him to lead them to the Thessalonians and expecting him to cause the Thessalonians to increase and abound in love. Thus, the apostles pray to God humbly, yet expectantly.
The main point of 1 Thessalonians 3:11–13 is: may God and Jesus guide the apostles to the Thessalonians and cause the Thessalonians to increase in love for all people. The main point is the content of the petition and can be discerned by identifying the two main clauses and combining them together.
1 Thessalonians 3:11–13
There are two petitions made to God:
- That God and Jesus guide the apostles to the Thessalonians (v 11). We know this is the first petition because “may our God . . . direct our way to you” is a main clause that is in the language of petition. Visiting the Thessalonians is obviously an important issue for the apostles as seen in 2:17–3:10.
- That the Lord cause the Thessalonians to increase and abound in love for all people (v 12–13). We know this is the second petition because “may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all” is a second main clause that is in the language of petition. Verse 13 contains modifying clauses that modify the main clause of verse 12. We’ll look at some of these modifiers below.
Some English versions such as the CSB and NIV have the apostles making three petitions, with verse 13 being a third. Unfortunately, this is incorrect, and the Greek text does not support such a translation (see below for a lengthier explanation as to why verse 13 is not another petition and why the translators of the CSB and NIV may have made their translation decision).
The apostles want the Thessalonians to increase and abound in love for one another (the brethren) and for all (i.e., all people): “. . . increase and abound in love for one another and for all” (v 12).
The purpose for the increased love is so that the Thessalonians will have hearts established (or “strengthened”) as blameless (v 13a). We know this is the purpose for the increase in love because the term that begins verse 13 (“so that”) indicates a purpose clause (the KJV uses “To the end,” which also indicates purpose).
Unfortunately, not every English translation uses a purpose clause in verse 13. Some translations, such as the CSB and NIV, begin a new petition in verse 13 so that there are three petitions. A new sentence and new petition have most likely been added in verse 13 for the sake of readability by making a long and complex sentence shorter and easier to read. The downside to this translation decision is that it obscures the close relationship between loving others and a blameless heart. Through their prayer, the apostles have indicated that loving others establishes a blameless heart.
The apostles want the Thessalonians to have hearts established as blameless when they stand in the presence of God the Father (where) at the return of Jesus (when) (v 13b). The apostles are thinking eschatologically here. They want to ensure the Thessalonians stand tall when they stand before God at the time of judgment. For the Thessalonians to be fully blameless in everything at the time of judgment, they need to increase and abound in love for one another and for all.
The apostles are not advocating a works-based salvation here. 1 Thessalonians 1:2–3:10 is clear that salvation comes through God’s election and belief in Jesus, which is the apostles’ gospel (1:4–5, 8–10; 2:12–13; 3:6–8). What the apostles are doing in 3:12–13 is praying that the Thessalonians will “walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory” (2:12) and that God will complete what is “lacking in your faith” (3:10) so they will stand completely blameless on the day of judgment.
Although the Thessalonians’ salvation does not depend on their love for one another, 3:12–13 does suggest that God will judge the hearts of all believers when Jesus returns. As such, it is imperative to have a blameless heart at the return of Jesus and the way to achieve such a heart is to love one another and love all.
Summary of 1 Thessalonians 3:11–13
The Relationship between 1 Thessalonians 3:11–13 and the Preceding Passage (2:17–3:10)
1 Thessalonians 3:11–13 concludes both 2:17–3:10 and the first half of the letter. The connection to 2:17–3:10 is clearly seen in the contents of the apostles’ prayer. The apostles petition the Lord to lead them to see the Thessalonians in person (3:11), which was a great desire of the apostles (2:17–3:1, 10). Further, they petition the Lord to increase the Thessalonians in love so they will be blameless at the return of Jesus (3:12–13), which aligns well with the apostles’ claim that the Thessalonians are their hope, joy, and crown of boasting at the return of Jesus (2:19). The apostles want to ensure the Thessalonians remain faithful and are maturing because they (the apostles) will be held accountable for the Thessalonians (2:19; 3:8).
1 Thessalonians 3:11–13 also concludes the first section of the letter (1:1–3:10). The prayer acts as a conclusion to this section, summing up two main themes found throughout 1:1–3:10: (1) the apostles desire to see the Thessalonians and (2) the apostles thanksgiving for and desire to see the Thessalonians mature and walk rightly before the Lord. Further evidence that 3:11–13 concludes the first section of 1 Thessalonians is the drastic change in language and content in 4:1–5:28 as compared to 1:1–3:10. The first half of the letter is the apostles’ thanksgivings and reminiscences; whereas the second half of the letter consists largely of exhortations and commands.
Summary of 1 Thessalonians 3:11–13
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy petition God and Jesus to lead them to the Thessalonians and to cause the Thessalonians to increase and abound in love for all people so that they will have blameless hearts when they stand before God at the return of Jesus.
Another helpful way of summarizing a passage is by producing an outline. An outline can help you remember the main points and the argument of a passage at a glance and is a useful tool for teaching a passage.
Paul and Silvanus request two things from God and Jesus
A. A request for themselves: to be led to see the Thessalonians face-to-face (v 11)
B. A request for the Thessalonians: to cause them to increase and abound in love for all
people for the purpose of having their hearts established as blameless (v 12–13a)
1. In the presence of the Father (v 13b)
2. When Jesus returns (v 13b)
Application of 1 Thessalonians 3:11–13 to Modern Christians
The application of 1 Thessalonians 3:10–13 is fairly straight forward. Since the apostles pray for the Thessalonians to increase and abound in love for one another and for all, we should seek to abound in love for one another (i.e., other Christians, especially those in our church) and for all people. Thus, the application of 3:10–13 is to love one another and all people more and more and more (increase and abound).
Prayer Based on 1 Thessalonians 3:11–13
We should pray the same prayer as the apostles for ourselves and for other Christians because we too want to stand before God with blameless hearts.
Dear God, please cause me to increase and abound in love for one another and for all people so that my heart may be established as blameless in holiness before God the Father at the coming of my Lord Jesus with all his saints. Please also cause all Christians throughout the world to increase and abound in love for one another and for all people. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.