Section 3:6–13

Timothy had visited the Thessalonians and brought Paul an encouraging report

Paragraph 3:6–10

Timothy had returned from Thessalonica with the good news that the Thessalonians still affectionately remembered Paul and his companions and that they still trusted in God and loved other people. This encouraged Paul greatly. The news made him pray even more fervently that he and his companions might be able to visit the Thessalonians again.

3:6a

But: The way this verse begins in Greek indicates that Paul was beginning a new section. It possibly also contrasts the joy that Paul felt when Timothy brought his good news with the fear that Paul had been writing about in 3:5.

just now: Biblical scholars do not agree about which other word the Greek word arti (now) is connected to. There are two possibilities:

(1) It is connected to the verb “come.” Most English versions follow this.

(2) It is connected to the verb “reassured” in 3:7b. This is probably what the Revised Standard Version follows.

It is recommended that you follow the first option (1), as the position of arti in the Greek sentence suggests that it is probably connected to the verb “come.”

3:6b

the good news about your faith: This refers to the good news that the Thessalonians were still continuing to believe strongly in Christ.

your love: Paul did not make explicit here whom the Thessalonians loved. It could refer to God, Jesus, Paul and his companions, the other Thessalonian believers, or just people in general. All are possible and suggested in commentaries. However, most commentators think that here Paul meant love for other people. If possible, you should leave this ambiguous, since it is in ambiguous the Greek text. But if you must supply an object for the verb “love” in your language, you should say “love other people.”

3:6c

and the fond memories you have preserved: Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

you always think about us affectionately
-or-
every time you remember us, it makes you happy

3:6d

longing to see us: The verb longing means “greatly desiring.”

3:6e

just as: There are two different ways to understand what just as means:

(1) It means “in the same way as”.

(Berean Standard Bible, King James Version, New International Version (2011 Revision), Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, God’s Word).

(2) It means “just as much as”.

(Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version).

It is recommended that you follow the first meaning (1).

we long to see you: In Greek there is no verb in this part of the sentence, but the Berean Standard Bible has repeated the verb long in order to make the meaning clear.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.