1 Thessalonians 3:13

Authorized King James Version

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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.

Original Language Analysis

εἰς To the end G1519
εἰς To the end
Strong's: G1519
Word #: 1 of 28
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τὸ G3588
τὸ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 2 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
στηρίξαι he may stablish G4741
στηρίξαι he may stablish
Strong's: G4741
Word #: 3 of 28
to set fast, i.e., (literally) to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or (figuratively) to confirm
ὑμῶν your G5216
ὑμῶν your
Strong's: G5216
Word #: 4 of 28
of (from or concerning) you
τὰς G3588
τὰς
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 5 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καρδίας hearts G2588
καρδίας hearts
Strong's: G2588
Word #: 6 of 28
the heart, i.e., (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle
ἀμέμπτους unblameable G273
ἀμέμπτους unblameable
Strong's: G273
Word #: 7 of 28
irreproachable
ἐν at G1722
ἐν at
Strong's: G1722
Word #: 8 of 28
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc
ἁγιωσύνῃ holiness G42
ἁγιωσύνῃ holiness
Strong's: G42
Word #: 9 of 28
sacredness (i.e., properly, the quality)
ἔμπροσθεν before G1715
ἔμπροσθεν before
Strong's: G1715
Word #: 10 of 28
in front of (in place (literally or figuratively) or time)
τοῦ G3588
τοῦ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 11 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θεοῦ God G2316
θεοῦ God
Strong's: G2316
Word #: 12 of 28
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
καὶ even G2532
καὶ even
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 13 of 28
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
πατρὸς Father G3962
πατρὸς Father
Strong's: G3962
Word #: 14 of 28
a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
ἡμῶν of our G2257
ἡμῶν of our
Strong's: G2257
Word #: 15 of 28
of (or from) us
ἐν at G1722
ἐν at
Strong's: G1722
Word #: 16 of 28
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc
τῇ G3588
τῇ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 17 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
παρουσίᾳ the coming G3952
παρουσίᾳ the coming
Strong's: G3952
Word #: 18 of 28
a being near, i.e., advent (often, return; specially, of christ to punish jerusalem, or finally the wicked); (by implication) physically, aspect
τοῦ G3588
τοῦ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 19 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
κυρίου Lord G2962
κυρίου Lord
Strong's: G2962
Word #: 20 of 28
supreme in authority, i.e., (as noun) controller; by implication, master (as a respectful title)
ἡμῶν of our G2257
ἡμῶν of our
Strong's: G2257
Word #: 21 of 28
of (or from) us
Ἰησοῦ Jesus G2424
Ἰησοῦ Jesus
Strong's: G2424
Word #: 22 of 28
jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites
Χριστοῦ Christ G5547
Χριστοῦ Christ
Strong's: G5547
Word #: 23 of 28
anointed, i.e., the messiah, an epithet of jesus
μετὰ with G3326
μετὰ with
Strong's: G3326
Word #: 24 of 28
properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession)
πάντων all G3956
πάντων all
Strong's: G3956
Word #: 25 of 28
all, any, every, the whole
τῶν G3588
τῶν
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 26 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἁγίων saints G40
ἁγίων saints
Strong's: G40
Word #: 27 of 28
sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated)
αὐτοῦ his G846
αὐτοῦ his
Strong's: G846
Word #: 28 of 28
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

Cross References

Colossians 1:22In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:1 Thessalonians 5:23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.Ephesians 5:27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.1 Thessalonians 2:19For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?Jude 1:14And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,Zechariah 14:5And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.Jude 1:24Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,1 Thessalonians 4:15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.1 Thessalonians 3:11Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.Deuteronomy 33:2And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.

Analysis & Commentary

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—eis to stērixai hymōn tas kardias amemp tous en hagiosynē emprosthen tou Theou kai Patros hēmōn en tē parousia tou Kyriou hēmōn Iēsou meta pantōn tōn hagiōn autou (εἰς τὸ στηρίξαι ὑμῶν τὰς καρδίας ἀμέμπτους ἐν ἁγιωσύνῃ ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ Πατρὸς ἡμῶν ἐν τῇ παρουσίᾳ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ μετὰ πάντων τῶν ἁγίων αὐτοῦ). Stērixai (στηρίξαι, 'to establish/strengthen') aims at the kardias (καρδίας, 'hearts')—inner character, not merely external conformity. Amemptous en hagiosynē (ἀμέμπτους ἐν ἁγιωσύνῃ, 'blameless in holiness') describes comprehensive righteousness.

At the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints (en tē parousia... meta pantōn tōn hagiōn)—the parousia creates eschatological urgency. Holiness must withstand Christ's scrutinizing return. Hagiōn (saints/holy ones) could mean glorified believers returning with Christ or angels accompanying Him (2 Thess 1:7); likely both, as Mark 8:38 combines 'holy angels' with Christ's return. Present holiness prepares for future vindication. Love (v. 12) serves sanctification (v. 13)—increasing love establishes blameless hearts for Christ's return. Chapters 1-3 (pastoral relationship) lead to chapters 4-5 (ethical instruction and eschatological hope).

Historical Context

Chapter 3 concludes Paul's personal section before transitioning to ethical instruction (ch. 4) and eschatological teaching (ch. 4-5). The prayer for blameless holiness at Christ's parousia introduces themes dominating the letter's remainder: sanctification (4:3-8), mutual love (4:9-10), holy living (4:11-12), and preparedness for Christ's return (4:13-5:11). The early church's intense expectation of Christ's imminent return (which persists though timing remains unknown) created powerful motivation for present holiness—the Judge could arrive at any moment.

Questions for Reflection