1 Thessalonians 1:3

Authorized King James Version

Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

Word-by-Word Analysis

ἀδιαλείπτως

G89

without ceasing

uninterruptedly, i.e., without omission (on an appropriate occasion)

μνημονεύοντες

G3421

Remembering

to exercise memory, i.e., recollect; by implication, to punish; also to rehearse

ὑμῶν

G5216

your

of (from or concerning) you

τοῦ

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἔργου

G2041

work

toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act

τῆς

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

πίστεως

G4102

of faith

persuasion, i.e., credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of god or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon christ

καὶ

G2532

and

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

τοῦ

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

#10

κόπου

G2873

labour

a cut, i.e., (by analogy) toil (as reducing the strength), literally or figuratively; by implication, pains

#11

τῆς

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

#12

ἀγάπης

G26

of love

love, i.e., affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast

#13

καὶ

G2532

and

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

#14

τῆς

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

#15

ὑπομονῆς

G5281

patience

cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy

#16

τῆς

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

#17

ἐλπίδος

G1680

of hope

expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence

#18

τοῦ

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

#19

κυρίου

G2962

Lord

supreme in authority, i.e., (as noun) controller; by implication, master (as a respectful title)

#20

ἡμῶν

G2257

in our

of (or from) us

#21

Ἰησοῦ

G2424

Jesus

jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites

#22

Χριστοῦ

G5547

Christ

anointed, i.e., the messiah, an epithet of jesus

#23

ἔμπροσθεν

G1715

in the sight

in front of (in place (literally or figuratively) or time)

#24

τοῦ

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

#25

θεοῦ

G2316

of God

a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)

#26

καὶ

G2532

and

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

#27

πατρὸς

G3962

Father

a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)

#28

ἡμῶν

G2257

in our

of (or from) us

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing faith central to epistemology and the means by which humans receive divine revelation and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

How might the original audience's understanding of faith differ from modern interpretations, and what bridges can be built between ancient meaning and contemporary application?
In what ways does understanding faith in its original context challenge or deepen contemporary Christian thinking about salvation?
How does this verse's literary context within 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 illuminate its theological significance, and what does this teach us about biblical interpretation?

Related Resources

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Topics

Prayer