1
Διὸ μηκέτι στέγοντες εὐδοκήσαμεν καταλειφθῆναι ἐν Ἀθήναις μόνοι,
Therefore, when we could bear it no longer, we resolved to be left behind at Athens alone,
Διό gathers up the longing of 2:17–20 and draws the practical conclusion: the unbearable separation drove a decision — to remain alone and send another in Paul's stead.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
Διὸthereforeinferential conjunctionδιό: 'on which account, therefore' (δι' ὅ); draws an inference from the preceding longing to see them.
μηκέτιno longeradverb of time (negative, w/ ptc.)μηκέτι: 'no longer'; the μή-form negates the participle στέγοντες — 'no longer enduring.'
στέγοντεςbearing/enduringPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · στέγωcausal/temporal adverbial participle→ progressive present (ongoing strain)στέγω: 'cover, hold off, bear up under'; of a vessel keeping water out — to endure under pressure (cf. 1 Cor 13:7).
εὐδοκήσαμενwe resolved/thought it goodAor Act Indic 1 Pl · εὐδοκέωmain verb→ constative aorist (the decision)εὐδοκέω: 'be well pleased, resolve, decide gladly'; the deliberate good-pleasure behind sending Timothy.
καταλειφθῆναιto be left behindAor Pass Inf · καταλείπωcomplementary infinitive (of εὐδοκήσαμεν)→ constative aoristκαταλείπω: 'leave behind, leave remaining' (κατά + λείπω); the passive frames Paul's solitude as something he accepted.
ἐνin/atpreposition + dative (place)
ἈθήναιςAthensDativedative of placeἈθῆναι: Athens (always plural); the staging point from which Paul dispatched Timothy back to Macedonia (cf. Acts 17:15–16).
μόνοιaloneNominativepredicate adjective (subject complement)μόνος: 'alone, only'; the plural underscores the cost — the missionary band would be left without Timothy.
2
καὶ ἐπέμψαμεν Τιμόθεον, τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἡμῶν καὶ διάκονον τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ, εἰς τὸ στηρίξαι ὑμᾶς καὶ παρακαλέσαι ὑπὲρ τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν
and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's servant in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you concerning your faith,
The action that the decision of v.1 made room for: the sending of Timothy, whose threefold commendation (brother, God's servant, in the gospel) certifies his standing, with a double purpose clause — to strengthen and to encourage.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐπέμψαμενwe sentAor Act Indic 1 Pl · πέμπωmain verb→ constative aoristπέμπω: 'send'; the dispatch of an envoy in the sender's place — Timothy stands in for Paul.
ΤιμόθεονTimothyAccusativedirect objectΤιμόθεος: Timothy ('honoring God'); Paul's trusted co-worker and co-sender of the letter (1:1).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
ἀδελφὸνbrotherAccusativeapposition to Τιμόθεονἀδελφός: 'brother'; family language for fellow believers — the first of Timothy's three titles.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
διάκονονservant/ministerAccusativeapposition (coordinate w/ ἀδελφόν)διάκονος: 'servant, minister, agent'; here of gospel service — Timothy works on God's behalf, not merely Paul's.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship (whose servant)θεός: God; the genitive makes the ministry God's own — Timothy serves under divine, not merely apostolic, authority.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
τῷtheDativearticle
εὐαγγελίῳgospelDativedative of sphere (realm of service)εὐαγγέλιον: 'good news, gospel'; the domain in which Timothy's diaconal service is rendered.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
ΧριστοῦChristGenitiveobjective genitive (gospel about Christ)Χριστός: 'Anointed,' Messiah; the gospel's content and center — the good news of Christ.
εἰςfor/topreposition + articular infinitive (purpose)
τὸtheAccusativearticle (nominalizes infinitives)
στηρίξαιto strengthen/establishAor Act Inf · στηρίζωarticular infinitive of purpose (w/ εἰς τό)→ constative aoristστηρίζω: 'set fast, make firm, establish'; to give stability under pressure — the keynote verb of the chapter (cf. v.13).
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeobject of στηρίξαι
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
παρακαλέσαιto encourage/exhortAor Act Inf · παρακαλέωarticular infinitive of purpose (coordinate)→ constative aoristπαρακαλέω: 'call alongside,' hence 'encourage, exhort, comfort'; to come beside and strengthen the wavering.
ὑπὲρconcerning/forpreposition + genitive (reference)ὑπέρ + gen.: here in the sense 'concerning, with respect to' (overlapping περί) — the matter at issue is their faith.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
πίστεωςfaithGenitiveobject of ὑπέρ (reference)πίστις: 'faith, trust, faithfulness'; the keyword of the chapter — the object of Paul's anxiety and his joy.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship
3
τὸ μηδένα σαίνεσθαι ἐν ταῖς θλίψεσιν ταύταις. αὐτοὶ γὰρ οἴδατε ὅτι εἰς τοῦτο κείμεθα·
so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed for this.
An articular-infinitive clause states the aim of the strengthening — that none be unsettled — and γάρ grounds it in shared knowledge: affliction is the appointed lot of believers, not a sign that something has gone wrong.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
τὸthe (namely)Accusativearticle (nominalizes the infinitive clause)
μηδέναno oneAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitiveμηδείς: 'no one, nobody'; the μή-form fits the non-indicative (infinitival) construction.
σαίνεσθαιto be shaken/disturbedPres Pass Inf · σαίνωarticular infinitive (epexegetic/purpose)→ progressive presentσαίνω: lit. 'wag the tail' (of a dog fawning), then 'beguile, agitate, be unsettled'; here 'be moved/disturbed' by trials.
ἐνin/bypreposition + dative (cause/circumstance)
ταῖςtheDativearticle
θλίψεσινafflictionsDativedative of cause/attendant circumstanceθλῖψις: 'pressure, affliction, tribulation'; from θλίβω, 'press, squeeze' — the squeezing of persecution.
ταύταιςtheseDativedemonstrative (attributive)
αὐτοὶyourselvesNominativeintensive pronoun (w/ implied subject)αὐτός: here intensive, 'you yourselves' — the readers' own firsthand knowledge is appealed to.
γὰρforexplanatory/causal conjunction
οἴδατεyou knowPerf Act Indic 2 Pl · οἶδαmain verb→ perfect with present force (settled knowledge)οἶδα: 'know' (perfect in form, present in sense); knowledge possessed as a standing fact.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of οἴδατε)
εἰςfor/topreposition + accusative (goal/destiny)
τοῦτοthisAccusativeobject of εἰς (the appointed lot)οὗτος: 'this'; refers forward/back to the afflictions — the very thing for which believers are set.
κείμεθαwe are appointed/destinedPres Mid Indic 1 Pl · κεῖμαιmain verb (ὅτι clause)→ stative presentκεῖμαι: 'lie, be laid, be set/appointed'; here 'we are destined' — affliction is the believer's appointed position.
4
καὶ γὰρ ὅτε πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἦμεν, προελέγομεν ὑμῖν ὅτι μέλλομεν θλίβεσθαι, καθὼς καὶ ἐγένετο καὶ οἴδατε.
For indeed, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we were going to suffer affliction, just as it also came to pass, and you know it.
A second γάρ reinforces v.3: not only is affliction the appointed lot, Paul had forewarned them of it, and the prediction was confirmed by events — so the trials vindicate rather than discredit the gospel.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶindeed/andadverbial (w/ γάρ: 'for indeed')καὶ γάρ: a strengthened causal connective, 'for indeed, for in fact.'
γὰρforexplanatory conjunction
ὅτεwhentemporal conjunction
πρὸςwithpreposition + accusative (association)πρός + acc.: here 'with, in the company of' — face-to-face presence, not mere direction.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeobject of πρός
ἦμενwe wereImpf Act Indic 1 Pl · εἰμίverb (temporal clause)→ imperfect (duration of the stay)
προελέγομενwe told beforehandImpf Act Indic 1 Pl · προλέγωmain verb→ iterative/customary imperfect (repeatedly warned)προλέγω: 'say beforehand, forewarn' (προ- + λέγω); the imperfect suggests repeated warning during the visit.
ὑμῖνyouDativeindirect object
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of προελέγομεν)
μέλλομενwe are about/goingPres Act Indic 1 Pl · μέλλωmain verb (ὅτι clause; retained from direct speech)→ futuristic present (impending)μέλλω: 'be about to, be destined to'; with infinitive expresses imminent or appointed futurity.
θλίβεσθαιto suffer afflictionPres Pass Inf · θλίβωcomplementary infinitive (of μέλλομεν)→ progressive presentθλίβω: 'press, oppress, afflict'; the cognate verb of θλῖψις (v.3) — to be under crushing pressure.
καθὼςjust ascomparative conjunctionκαθώς: 'just as, according as'; introduces the correspondence between prediction and event.
καὶalsoadverbial (ascensive)
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (comparative clause)→ constative aoristγίνομαι: 'happen, come to pass'; the prediction was realized — the affliction actually arrived.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
οἴδατεyou knowPerf Act Indic 2 Pl · οἶδαmain verb→ perfect with present force (settled knowledge)οἶδα: 'know'; their own experience confirms what Paul had foretold — a second appeal to their knowledge (cf. v.3).
5
διὰ τοῦτο κἀγὼ μηκέτι στέγων ἔπεμψα εἰς τὸ γνῶναι τὴν πίστιν ὑμῶν, μή πως ἐπείρασεν ὑμᾶς ὁ πειράζων καὶ εἰς κενὸν γένηται ὁ κόπος ἡμῶν.
For this reason I also, when I could bear it no longer, sent to learn about your faith, lest somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor might prove to be in vain.
Resuming v.1 (μηκέτι στέγων, now singular: 'I also'), Paul restates the purpose of the sending — to gain knowledge of their faith — and names his deep fear: that the tempter had succeeded and his apostolic labor had come to nothing.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
διὰbecause ofpreposition + accusative (cause)
τοῦτοthisAccusativeobject of διά (διὰ τοῦτο = 'therefore')διὰ τοῦτο: 'for this reason, therefore'; resumes the sending after the parenthetic vv.3–4.
κἀγὼI alsoNominativesubject (crasis καὶ ἐγώ)κἀγώ: crasis of καὶ ἐγώ, 'I also/even I'; the shift to the singular personalizes the action (cf. plural in v.1).
μηκέτιno longeradverb of time (negative, w/ ptc.)μηκέτι: 'no longer'; echoes v.1 verbatim, binding the resumption to the original decision.
στέγωνbearing/enduringPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · στέγωcausal/temporal adverbial participle→ progressive presentστέγω: 'bear up under, endure'; singular here, recalling the plural στέγοντες of v.1.
ἔπεμψαI sentAor Act Indic 1 Sg · πέμπωmain verb→ constative aoristπέμπω: 'send'; the object (Timothy) is understood from v.2.
εἰςfor/topreposition + articular infinitive (purpose)
τὸtheAccusativearticle (nominalizes infinitive)
γνῶναιto know/learnAor Act Inf · γινώσκωarticular infinitive of purpose (w/ εἰς τό)→ ingressive aorist (come to know)γινώσκω: 'come to know, learn, ascertain'; Paul sent to gain firsthand knowledge of how their faith fared.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
πίστινfaithAccusativeobject of γνῶναιπίστις: 'faith'; again the chapter's keyword — the object of Paul's investigation.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship
μήlestconjunction (negative purpose/fear)μή πως: 'lest somehow, lest perhaps'; introduces a clause of apprehension.
πωςsomehowparticle (indefinite, w/ μή)πως: 'somehow, perhaps'; softens the fear into a wary possibility.
ἐπείρασενhad temptedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πειράζωverb (indicative in fear clause: feared-but-real)→ constative aoristπειράζω: 'test, tempt'; the indicative (vs. subjunctive) hints the trial had in fact taken place — only its outcome was unknown.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object
ὁtheNominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
πειράζωνthe tempterPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · πειράζωsubstantival participle (subject)→ gnomic/titular present (the one who tempts)ὁ πειράζων: 'the tempter,' a title for Satan (cf. Matt 4:3); the present participle names his characteristic activity.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εἰςin(to)preposition + accusative (result)
κενὸνvain/emptyAccusativeobject of εἰς (εἰς κενόν = 'to no purpose')κενός: 'empty, void, fruitless'; εἰς κενόν = 'in vain, to no effect' — the dreaded outcome.
γένηταιmight become/proveAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · γίνομαιsubjunctive (negative purpose/fear clause)→ ingressive aoristγίνομαι: 'become, prove to be'; the subjunctive expresses the feared eventual result of the temptation.
ὁtheNominativearticle
κόποςlabor/toilNominativesubject of γένηταικόπος: 'labor, toil, wearisome effort'; the apostolic work that might have been wasted (cf. 2:9; Phil 2:16).
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
6
Ἄρτι δὲ ἐλθόντος Τιμοθέου πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἀφ' ὑμῶν καὶ εὐαγγελισαμένου ἡμῖν τὴν πίστιν καὶ τὴν ἀγάπην ὑμῶν, καὶ ὅτι ἔχετε μνείαν ἡμῶν ἀγαθὴν πάντοτε, ἐπιποθοῦντες ἡμᾶς ἰδεῖν καθάπερ καὶ ἡμεῖς ὑμᾶς,
But now that Timothy has come to us from you and brought us the good news of your faith and love, and that you always have a good remembrance of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you —
Ἄρτι δέ pivots from anxiety to relief: Timothy's return ('now,' just-happened) is cast in a genitive absolute, and his report is itself a 'gospel' (εὐαγγελισαμένου) — their faith, love, fond remembrance, and reciprocal longing all answer Paul's fears point for point.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
Ἄρτιnow/just nowadverb of timeἄρτι: 'just now, at this moment'; marks Timothy's arrival as recent — the letter follows hard upon it.
δὲbut/nowdevelopmental conjunction (mild contrast)δέ: 'but, and, now'; turns the corner from the foregoing fear to present relief.
ἐλθόντοςhaving comeAor Act Ptc · Gen Sg Masc · ἔρχομαιgenitive absolute (temporal)→ antecedent aorist (Timothy's arrival)ἔρχομαι: 'come'; the genitive absolute sets the circumstance — 'now that Timothy has come.'
ΤιμοθέουTimothyGenitivesubject of the genitive absoluteΤιμόθεος: Timothy; his return from Macedonia rejoined Paul (cf. Acts 18:5).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeobject of πρός
ἀφ'frompreposition + genitive (source)ἀπό: 'from'; elided before the rough breathing — 'from you' (Timothy came bearing news from the Thessalonians).
ὑμῶνyouGenitiveobject of ἀπό (source)
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (joins ptcs.)
εὐαγγελισαμένουhaving brought good newsAor Mid Ptc · Gen Sg Masc · εὐαγγελίζομαιgenitive absolute (coordinate w/ ἐλθόντος)→ antecedent aoristεὐαγγελίζομαι: 'announce good news'; striking — used only here in the NT of news other than the gospel itself, dignifying their report.
ἡμῖνto usDativeindirect object
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
πίστινfaithAccusativedirect object of εὐαγγελισαμένουπίστις: 'faith'; the very thing Paul sent to learn (v.5) is now reported as sound.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
ἀγάπηνloveAccusativedirect object (coordinate)ἀγάπη: 'love'; the companion virtue to faith — anticipates the prayer of v.12.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifies both nouns)
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὅτιthatconjunction (further content of the report)
ἔχετεyou havePres Act Indic 2 Pl · ἔχωmain verb (ὅτι clause)→ stative/customary presentἔχω: 'have, hold'; here of holding a settled, kindly memory of Paul.
μνείανremembranceAccusativedirect objectμνεία: 'remembrance, recollection'; a warm memory, not a grudge — answering any fear of estrangement.
ἡμῶνof usGenitiveobjective genitive
ἀγαθὴνgoodAccusativeattributive adjectiveἀγαθός: 'good, kindly'; qualifies the remembrance as affectionate and well-disposed.
πάντοτεalwaysadverb of frequencyπάντοτε: 'always, at all times'; the good remembrance is constant, not occasional.
ἐπιποθοῦντεςlongingPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ἐπιποθέωadverbial participle (nom., agreeing w/ implied 'you')→ progressive present (constant yearning)ἐπιποθέω: 'long for, yearn' (ἐπί-intensive); their desire to see Paul mirrors his desire for them (2:17).
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeobject of ἰδεῖν
ἰδεῖνto seeAor Act Inf · ὁράωcomplementary infinitive (of ἐπιποθοῦντες)→ constative aoristὁράω: 'see'; the aorist infinitive (εἶδον stem) — to set eyes on Paul again.
καθάπερjust ascomparative conjunctionκαθάπερ: 'exactly as, just as' (emphatic form of καθώς); marks the mutuality of the longing.
καὶalsoadverbial (correlative)
ἡμεῖςweNominativesubject (emphatic, w/ implied verb)ἡμεῖς: 'we'; emphatic — the longing runs both ways (verb 'long to see' supplied from ἐπιποθοῦντες).
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeobject (of implied ἰδεῖν)
7
διὰ τοῦτο παρεκλήθημεν, ἀδελφοί, ἐφ' ὑμῖν ἐπὶ πάσῃ τῇ ἀνάγκῃ καὶ θλίψει ἡμῶν διὰ τῆς ὑμῶν πίστεως,
for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith,
The apodosis to the long genitive-absolute clause of v.6: Timothy's news produced comfort. The address 'brothers' warms the disclosure; the comfort came in the midst of Paul's own affliction and through the instrument of their faith.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
διὰbecause ofpreposition + accusative (cause)
τοῦτοthisAccusativeobject of διά (διὰ τοῦτο = 'for this reason')διὰ τοῦτο: 'on this account'; points back to the whole report of v.6 as the cause of comfort.
παρεκλήθημενwe were comfortedAor Pass Indic 1 Pl · παρακαλέωmain verb→ ingressive aorist (came to be comforted)παρακαλέω: 'comfort, encourage'; the same verb used of Timothy's task (v.2) now describes its effect on Paul.
ἀδελφοίbrothersVocativevocative of direct addressἀδελφός: 'brother'; the affectionate address frequent in this letter, marking pastoral warmth.
ἐφ'about/concerningpreposition + dative (reference/ground)ἐπί + dat.: here 'concerning, on the basis of' — the comfort was occasioned by their situation.
ὑμῖνyouDativeobject of ἐπί (reference)
ἐπὶin/amidpreposition + dative (circumstance)ἐπί + dat.: here of attendant circumstance — 'amid, in the midst of' all the distress.
πάσῃallDativeattributive adjective
τῇtheDativearticle
ἀνάγκῃdistress/necessityDativeobject of ἐπί (circumstance)ἀνάγκη: 'necessity, distress, hardship'; the pressing constraints of Paul's circumstances.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
θλίψειafflictionDativeobject of ἐπί (coordinate)θλῖψις: 'affliction, pressure'; Paul shares the very kind of trial he feared for them (v.3).
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
διὰthroughpreposition + genitive (means)
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (in attributive position)
πίστεωςfaithGenitivegenitive of means (instrument of comfort)πίστις: 'faith'; the means through which comfort came — their persevering faith was Paul's consolation.
8
ὅτι νῦν ζῶμεν ἐὰν ὑμεῖς στήκετε ἐν κυρίῳ.
because now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord.
A vivid causal explanation of v.7: their steadfastness is life itself to Paul. The conditional (ἐάν + indicative στήκετε) treats their standing as the assumed, present reality — Timothy's report has confirmed it.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction
νῦνnowadverb of time (emphatic)νῦν: 'now'; the present moment of relief — life restored upon hearing the news.
ζῶμενwe livePres Act Indic 1 Pl · ζάωmain verb→ stative present (vivid)ζάω: 'live, be alive'; hyperbolic — Paul's anxiety was a kind of death, their faith a revival to life.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (third class)ἐάν: 'if'; with the indicative here it presents the condition as the assumed, ongoing case.
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)ὑμεῖς: 'you'; emphatic — their standing is the hinge on which Paul's joy turns.
στήκετεyou stand firmPres Act Indic 2 Pl · στήκωverb (protasis; indicative after ἐάν)→ progressive present (continuing to stand)στήκω: 'stand firm, hold one's ground' (a present formed from the perfect ἕστηκα); of steadfast perseverance (cf. Phil 1:27).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
κυρίῳthe LordDativedative of sphere (locus of standing)κύριος: 'Lord'; the sphere of their steadfastness is union with Christ — 'in the Lord' they stand.
9
τίνα γὰρ εὐχαριστίαν δυνάμεθα τῷ θεῷ ἀνταποδοῦναι περὶ ὑμῶν ἐπὶ πάσῃ τῇ χαρᾷ ᾗ χαίρομεν δι' ὑμᾶς ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν,
For what thanksgiving can we render to God for you, in return for all the joy with which we rejoice on your account before our God,
A rhetorical question expressing the overflow of gratitude that the relief of vv.6–8 produced: no thanks could adequately repay God for the joy they bring, a joy experienced 'before God' — i.e. in worshipful prayer.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
τίναwhatAccusativeinterrogative adjective (modifies εὐχαριστίαν)τίς: 'who, what'; the question expects the answer 'none adequate' — gratitude exceeds repayment.
γὰρforexplanatory conjunction
εὐχαριστίανthanksgivingAccusativedirect object of ἀνταποδοῦναιεὐχαριστία: 'thanksgiving, gratitude'; the return Paul wishes to make to God for them.
δυνάμεθαwe are ablePres Mid Indic 1 Pl · δύναμαιmain verb→ stative presentδύναμαι: 'be able, can'; the rhetorical 'what can we possibly...?'
τῷtheDativearticle
θεῷGodDativeindirect object (recipient of thanks)θεός: God; thanksgiving is rendered to God, who is the giver of their faith and Paul's joy.
ἀνταποδοῦναιto render in returnAor Act Inf · ἀνταποδίδωμιcomplementary infinitive (of δυνάμεθα)→ constative aoristἀνταποδίδωμι: 'give back, repay, recompense' (ἀντί + ἀπό + δίδωμι); the double prefix stresses adequate requital.
περὶfor/concerningpreposition + genitive (reference)
ὑμῶνyouGenitiveobject of περί
ἐπὶfor/overpreposition + dative (ground/occasion)ἐπί + dat.: here causal/occasional — 'on the basis of, in return for' all the joy.
πάσῃallDativeattributive adjective
τῇtheDativearticle
χαρᾷjoyDativeobject of ἐπί (occasion of thanks)χαρά: 'joy, gladness'; the joy the Thessalonians give Paul is the measure of his debt of thanks.
ᾗwith whichDativerelative pronoun (cognate dat. w/ χαίρομεν)ὅς: relative pronoun; attracted to the case of χαρᾷ — a cognate dative, 'the joy with which we rejoice.'
χαίρομενwe rejoicePres Act Indic 1 Pl · χαίρωmain verb (relative clause)→ progressive presentχαίρω: 'rejoice, be glad'; cognate with χαρά — the joy and the rejoicing reinforce each other.
δι'because ofpreposition + accusative (cause)διά + acc.: 'on account of, because of' — the cause of the joy is the Thessalonians themselves.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeobject of διά
ἔμπροσθενbeforeimproper preposition + genitive (place)ἔμπροσθεν: 'in front of, before'; the joy is enjoyed coram Deo, in God's presence — i.e. in prayer.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitiveobject of ἔμπροσθεν
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
10
νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ δεόμενοι εἰς τὸ ἰδεῖν ὑμῶν τὸ πρόσωπον καὶ καταρτίσαι τὰ ὑστερήματα τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν;
night and day praying most earnestly that we may see your face and supply what is lacking in your faith?
An adverbial participle (δεόμενοι) qualifying v.9: the joy and thanksgiving are voiced in ceaseless, superlative prayer, with a twofold petition — to see them face to face and to make good whatever their faith still lacks.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
νυκτὸςby nightGenitivegenitive of time (within which)νύξ: 'night'; the genitive of time denotes the kind of time — praying 'during the night.'
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἡμέραςby dayGenitivegenitive of time (within which)ἡμέρα: 'day'; 'night and day' = around the clock, an idiom for unremitting prayer.
ὑπερεκπερισσοῦmost earnestly/beyond measureadverb (degree, superlative)ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ: 'superabundantly, beyond all measure'; a triple-compound (ὑπέρ + ἐκ + περισσός) — Pauline intensive coinage.
δεόμενοιpraying/askingPres Mid Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · δέομαιadverbial participle (manner, w/ χαίρομεν)→ progressive present (continual entreaty)δέομαι: 'beg, entreat, pray'; the verb of urgent petitionary prayer arising from need.
εἰςfor/topreposition + articular infinitive (goal of prayer)
τὸtheAccusativearticle (nominalizes infinitives)
ἰδεῖνto seeAor Act Inf · ὁράωarticular infinitive (content/goal of δεόμενοι)→ constative aoristὁράω: 'see'; the first object of petition — to behold them again in person.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifies πρόσωπον)
τὸtheAccusativearticle
πρόσωπονfaceAccusativeobject of ἰδεῖνπρόσωπον: 'face, countenance'; 'to see your face' is a Semitic idiom for a personal, face-to-face visit (cf. 2:17).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
καταρτίσαιto supply/completeAor Act Inf · καταρτίζωarticular infinitive (coordinate goal)→ constative aoristκαταρτίζω: 'put in order, mend, complete, equip'; used of mending nets (Mark 1:19) — to make good what is deficient.
τὰtheAccusativearticle
ὑστερήματαdeficiencies/lacksAccusativeobject of καταρτίσαιὑστέρημα: 'what is lacking, shortfall, deficiency'; their faith is genuine yet not complete — gaps remain to be filled.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle
πίστεωςfaithGenitivegenitive of reference (lacks of faith)πίστις: 'faith'; the chapter's keyword again — the deficiencies pertain to their faith and its outworking.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship
11
Αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ ἡμῶν καὶ ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς κατευθύναι τὴν ὁδὸν ἡμῶν πρὸς ὑμᾶς·
Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you;
The optative κατευθύναι opens the concluding wish-prayer (vv.11–13). The emphatic Αὐτός and the single verb governing a compound subject (God and Jesus) quietly bind Father and Son together as one source of action — the answer to the petition of v.10.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
ΑὐτὸςhimselfNominativeintensive pronoun (w/ subject)αὐτός: intensive, 'himself'; emphatic — God himself, beyond any human agency, must clear the road.
δὲnowtransitional conjunctionδέ: 'now, but'; marks the turn from report to intercessory wish.
ὁtheNominativearticle
θεὸςGodNominativesubject (part of compound subject)θεός: God; named with πατήρ as one referent — 'our God and Father.'
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (joins titles)
πατὴρFatherNominativeapposition / coordinate title (one referent)πατήρ: 'Father'; under one article with θεός — the same person, named God-and-Father.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (joins subjects)
ὁtheNominativearticle
κύριοςLordNominativesubject (second member of compound subject)κύριος: 'Lord'; Jesus is joined with the Father as co-subject of a singular verb — a high Christological touch.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
ἸησοῦςJesusNominativeapposition to κύριοςἸησοῦς: Jesus; the personal name in apposition to the title 'our Lord.'
κατευθύναιmay he directAor Act Optative 3 Sg · κατευθύνωmain verb (optative of wish)→ volitive (precative) optativeκατευθύνω: 'make straight, direct' (κατά + εὐθύς, 'straight'); the optative voices a prayer-wish — 'may he clear the road.' The singular verb with a compound subject treats Father and Son as one.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
ὁδὸνwayAccusativedirect objectὁδός: 'road, way, journey'; the path to Thessalonica that Satan had hindered (cf. 2:18).
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeobject of πρός
12
ὑμᾶς δὲ ὁ κύριος πλεονάσαι καὶ περισσεύσαι τῇ ἀγάπῃ εἰς ἀλλήλους καὶ εἰς πάντας, καθάπερ καὶ ἡμεῖς εἰς ὑμᾶς,
and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we also do for you,
The second optative pair (πλεονάσαι, περισσεύσαι) shifts from Paul's coming to the Thessalonians' growth: that the Lord cause their love to overflow — inward toward one another, outward toward all — on the model of Paul's own love for them.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object (fronted for emphasis)the fronted ὑμᾶς shifts the focus from 'our way' (v.11) to 'you' — the readers' own growth.
δὲandconnective conjunction (continues the prayer)
ὁtheNominativearticle
κύριοςLordNominativesubjectκύριος: 'Lord'; here the Lord Jesus, the agent who increases their love.
πλεονάσαιmay he make increaseAor Act Optative 3 Sg · πλεονάζωmain verb (optative of wish; causative)→ volitive (precative) optativeπλεονάζω: 'increase, make more'; transitive here — 'cause you to abound,' the first of a near-synonymous pair.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
περισσεύσαιmay he make aboundAor Act Optative 3 Sg · περισσεύωmain verb (optative of wish; causative)→ volitive (precative) optativeπερισσεύω: 'overflow, abound, cause to overflow'; the pair πλεονάσαι/περισσεύσαι piles up the sense of superabundance.
τῇtheDativearticle
ἀγάπῃloveDativedative of reference/respect (in love)ἀγάπη: 'love'; the sphere in which they are to abound — the chief Christian virtue (cf. v.6; 4:9–10).
εἰςfor/towardpreposition + accusative (direction of love)
ἀλλήλουςone anotherAccusativeobject of εἰς (reciprocal pronoun)ἀλλήλων: 'one another'; the inward direction of love — within the community.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εἰςfor/towardpreposition + accusative (direction of love)
πάνταςallAccusativeobject of εἰς (substantival adjective)πᾶς: 'all'; the outward direction — love extending beyond the church to all people (cf. 5:15).
καθάπερjust ascomparative conjunctionκαθάπερ: 'exactly as'; Paul's own love is offered as the pattern and proof of what he prays for them.
καὶalsoadverbial (correlative)
ἡμεῖςweNominativesubject (emphatic; verb 'abound' implied)ἡμεῖς: 'we'; emphatic — Paul's love for them is the living model (verb supplied from περισσεύσαι).
εἰςfor/towardpreposition + accusative (direction)
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeobject of εἰς
13
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. ἀμήν.
so as to establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.
An articular-infinitive clause states the ultimate aim of abounding love: stabilized, blameless hearts. The horizon is eschatological — the παρουσία of the Lord Jesus with all his holy ones — and the chapter's keynote verb στηρίζω (v.2) returns to close the section.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
εἰςso as to/forpreposition + articular infinitive (purpose/result)
τὸtheAccusativearticle (nominalizes infinitive)
στηρίξαιto establish/make firmAor Act Inf · στηρίζωarticular infinitive of purpose (w/ εἰς τό)→ constative aoristστηρίζω: 'establish, make firm'; the keynote verb of the chapter (v.2) returns — abounding love is what stabilizes the heart.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifies καρδίας)
τὰςtheAccusativearticle
καρδίαςheartsAccusativeobject of στηρίξαικαρδία: 'heart'; in biblical usage the center of will, thought, and affection — the whole inner person.
ἀμέμπτουςblamelessAccusativepredicate accusative (object complement)ἄμεμπτος: 'blameless, without fault' (α- privative + μέμφομαι, 'blame'); the goal-state of the established heart.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
ἁγιωσύνῃholinessDativedative of sphere (realm of blamelessness)ἁγιωσύνη: 'holiness'; the abstract quality of being set apart to God — the sphere of blamelessness (cf. Rom 1:4).
ἔμπροσθενbeforeimproper preposition + genitive (place)ἔμπροσθεν: 'in front of, before'; the blamelessness is to stand the scrutiny of God's presence (cf. v.9).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitiveobject of ἔμπροσθεν
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (joins titles)
πατρὸςFatherGenitiveapposition (one referent: God-and-Father)πατήρ: 'Father'; 'our God and Father,' the same divine person addressed in v.11.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
ἐνatpreposition + dative (time)
τῇtheDativearticle
παρουσίᾳcoming/arrivalDativedative of time (when blamelessness is tested)παρουσία: 'presence, arrival, advent'; the technical term for Christ's royal coming — a leitmotif of this letter (cf. 2:19; 4:15; 5:23).
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
κυρίουLordGenitivepossessive/subjective genitive (whose coming)κύριος: 'Lord'; the coming is the Lord's own advent in glory.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
ἸησοῦJesusGenitiveapposition to κυρίουἸησοῦς: Jesus; the personal name in apposition to 'our Lord.'
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)
πάντωνallGenitiveattributive adjective
τῶνtheGenitivearticle
ἁγίωνholy onesGenitiveobject of μετά (substantival adjective)ἅγιος: 'holy one'; the entourage of the coming Lord — angels, glorified saints, or both (cf. Zech 14:5; Deut 33:2 LXX).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship
ἀμήνamenliturgical affirmation (transliterated Hebrew)ἀμήν: 'truly, so be it'; a Hebrew loanword sealing the wish-prayer with worshipful assent.