The Meaning of 1 Thessalonians 3:10 Explained

1 Thessalonians 3:10

KJV: Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

YLT: night and day exceedingly beseeching, that we might see your face, and perfect the things lacking in your faith.

Darby: night and day beseeching exceedingly to the end that we may see your face, and perfect what is lacking in your faith?

ASV: night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Night  and  day  praying  exceedingly  that  we might see  your  face,  and  might perfect  that which is lacking  in your  faith? 

What does 1 Thessalonians 3:10 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Thessalonians 3:1-13 - Awakening Thanksgiving And Intercession
At the outset observe that marginal reading by which Timothy is described as a fellow-worker with God. What a wonderful phrase, and yet it is applicable to all true workers for God! Think what it must have been for a young artist to be permitted to collaborate with Michelangelo! No thought of his own comfort interfered with Paul's efforts for the young churches he had planted; he was only eager that they should be established and comforted amid the storm of persecution that swept over them. There is only one path for the followers of Jesus, and it is lined with flints and flecked with blood.
Though the waters surged up to Paul's heart, he could bear anything, if only his work stood fast. What he suffered was as nothing compared with his joy at the stability of his charges. As he wrought day and night at his handicraft, so he prayed day and night for them. The stitches put into the tent cloth were accompanied by the holy threads of prayerful intercession. He only longed that Christ would make a straight thoroughfare to them, and would keep them blameless and strong. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Thessalonians 3

1  Paul testifies his great love to the Thessalonians,
5  partly by sending Timothy unto them to strengthen and comfort them;
7  partly by rejoicing in their well-doing;
10  and partly by praying for them, and desiring a safe coming unto them

Greek Commentary for 1 Thessalonians 3:10

Exceedingly [υπερεκπερισσου]
Double compound adverb, only in 1 Thessalonians 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:13 (some MSS. ως — ̇ōs). Like piling Ossa on Pelion, περισσως — perissōs abundantly, εκ περισσου — ek perissou out of bounds, υπερεκπερισσου — huperekperissou more than out of bounds (overflowing all bounds). [source]
And perfect [και καταρτισαι]
First aorist active articular infinitive of purpose The shortcomings, the lacks or left-overs (Colossians 1:24). From υστερεω — hustereō (υστερον — husteron), to be late. [source]
That which is lacking in [τα υστερηματα]
The shortcomings, the lacks or left-overs (Colossians 1:24). From υστερεω — hustereō (υστερον — husteron), to be late. [source]
Exceedingly [ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ]
Comp. Ephesians 3:20. Paul is fond of compounds with ὑπὲρ aboveOf the 28 N.T. words compounded with ὑπὲρ, 22 are found in Paul, and 20 of them only there. [source]
Perfect [καταρτίσαι]
Primarily, to adjust, fit together; so mend, Matthew 4:21. Of the creation of the world, Hebrews 11:3. See on Matthew 21:16; see on Luke 6:40; see on 1 Peter 5:10; see on Romans 9:22. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Thessalonians 3:10

1 Corinthians 1:10 Through the name [δια του ονοματος]
Genitive, not accusative (cause or reason), as the medium or instrument of the appeal (2 Corinthians 10:1; Romans 12:1; Romans 15:30). That (ινα — hina). Purport (sub-final) rather than direct purpose, common idiom in Koiné{[28928]}š (Robertson, Grammar, pp.991-4) like Matthew 14:36. Used here with λεγητε ηι ητε κατηρτισμενοι — legēteλεγητε παντες — ēiμη ηι εν υμιν σχισματα — ēte katērtismenoi though expressed only once. All speak Present active subjunctive, that ye all keep on speaking. With the divisions in mind. An idiom from Greek political life (Lightfoot). This touch of the classical writers argues for Paul‘s acquaintance with Greek culture. There be no divisions among you (σχιζω — mē ēi en humin schismata). Present subjunctive, that divisions may not continue to be (they already had them). Negative statement of preceding idea. αιρεσεις — Schisma is from στασις — schizō old word to split or rend, and so means a rent (Matthew 9:16; Mark 2:21). Papyri use it for a splinter of wood and for ploughing. Here we have the earliest instance of its use in a moral sense of division, dissension, see also 1 Corinthians 11:18 where a less complete change than ητε δε κατηρτισμενοι — haireseis 1 Corinthians 12:25; John 7:43 (discord); John 9:16; John 10:19. “Here, faction, for which the classical word is νοι — stasis division within the Christian community” (Vincent). These divisions were over the preachers (1:12-4:21), immorality (1 Corinthians 5:1-13), going to law before the heathen (1 Corinthians 6:1-11), marriage (7:1-40), meats offered to idols (1 Corinthians 8-10), conduct of women in church (11:1-16), the Lord‘s Supper (11:17-34), spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14), the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15). But that ye be perfected together Periphrastic perfect passive subjunctive. See this verb in Matthew 4:21 (Mark 1:19) for mending torn nets and in moral sense already in 1 Thessalonians 3:10. Galen uses it for a surgeon‘s mending a joint and Herodotus for composing factions. See 2 Corinthians 13:11; Galatians 6:1. Mind (νους — noi), judgment (γνωμη — gnōmēi). “Of these words νους — nous denotes the frame or state of mind, gnōmē the judgment, opinion or sentiment, which is the outcome of nous ” (Lightfoot). [source]
1 Corinthians 1:10 All speak [Σχισμα]
Present active subjunctive, that ye all keep on speaking. With the divisions in mind. An idiom from Greek political life (Lightfoot). This touch of the classical writers argues for Paul‘s acquaintance with Greek culture. There be no divisions among you (σχιζω — mē ēi en humin schismata). Present subjunctive, that divisions may not continue to be (they already had them). Negative statement of preceding idea. αιρεσεις — Schisma is from στασις — schizō old word to split or rend, and so means a rent (Matthew 9:16; Mark 2:21). Papyri use it for a splinter of wood and for ploughing. Here we have the earliest instance of its use in a moral sense of division, dissension, see also 1 Corinthians 11:18 where a less complete change than ητε δε κατηρτισμενοι — haireseis 1 Corinthians 12:25; John 7:43 (discord); John 9:16; John 10:19. “Here, faction, for which the classical word is νοι — stasis division within the Christian community” (Vincent). These divisions were over the preachers (1:12-4:21), immorality (1 Corinthians 5:1-13), going to law before the heathen (1 Corinthians 6:1-11), marriage (7:1-40), meats offered to idols (1 Corinthians 8-10), conduct of women in church (11:1-16), the Lord‘s Supper (11:17-34), spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14), the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15). But that ye be perfected together Periphrastic perfect passive subjunctive. See this verb in Matthew 4:21 (Mark 1:19) for mending torn nets and in moral sense already in 1 Thessalonians 3:10. Galen uses it for a surgeon‘s mending a joint and Herodotus for composing factions. See 2 Corinthians 13:11; Galatians 6:1. Mind (νους — noi), judgment (γνωμη — gnōmēi). “Of these words νους — nous denotes the frame or state of mind, gnōmē the judgment, opinion or sentiment, which is the outcome of nous ” (Lightfoot). [source]
1 Corinthians 1:10 But that ye be perfected together [γνωμηι]
Periphrastic perfect passive subjunctive. See this verb in Matthew 4:21 (Mark 1:19) for mending torn nets and in moral sense already in 1 Thessalonians 3:10. Galen uses it for a surgeon‘s mending a joint and Herodotus for composing factions. See 2 Corinthians 13:11; Galatians 6:1. Mind (νους — noi), judgment (γνωμη — gnōmēi). “Of these words νους — nous denotes the frame or state of mind, gnōmē the judgment, opinion or sentiment, which is the outcome of nous ” (Lightfoot). [source]
Ephesians 3:20 Exceeding abundantly [ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ]
Only here, 1 Thessalonians 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:13. Superabundantly. One of the numerous compounds of ὑπέρ beyondover and above, of which Paul is fond. Of twenty-eight words compounded with this preposition in the New Testament, Paul alone uses twenty. For the order and construction, see next note. [source]
Ephesians 3:20 Above all [υπερ παντα]
Not simply παντα — panta but υπερ — huper beyond and above all. Exceedingly abundantly (υπερεκπερισσου — huperekperissou). Late and rare double compound (υπερ εκ περισσου — huperων αιτουμετα — ekα — perissou) adverb (lxx, 1 Thessalonians 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:13; Ephesians 3:20). It suits well Paul‘s effort to pile Pelion on Ossa. That we ask Ablative of the relative pronoun attracted from the accusative αιτουμετα — ha to the case of the unexpressed antecedent η νοουμεν — toutōn Middle voice The highest aspiration is not beyond God‘s “power” (dunamin) to bestow. [source]
Colossians 1:24 Fill up on my part [ανταναπληρω]
Very rare double compound verb (here only in N.T.) to fill It is now Paul‘s “turn” at the bat, to use a baseball figure. Christ had his “turn,” the grandest of all and suffered for us all in a sense not true of any one else. It is the idea of balance or correspondence in αντι — anti as seen in Demosthenes‘s use of this verb (De Symm., p. 282), “the poor balancing the rich.” And yet Christ did not cause suffering to cease. There is plenty left for Paul and for each of us in his time. That which is lacking (τα υστερηματα — ta husterēmata). “The left-overs,” so to speak. Late word from υστερεω — hustereō to come behind, to be left, to fail. See Luke 21:4; 1 Thessalonians 3:10; 2 Corinthians 8:14; 2 Corinthians 9:12. For his body‘s sake As Paul showed in his exultation in suffering in 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, though not in the same sense in which Christ suffered and died for us as Redeemer. Paul attaches no atoning value whatever to his own sufferings for the church (see also Colossians 1:18). [source]
Colossians 1:24 That which is lacking [τα υστερηματα]
“The left-overs,” so to speak. Late word from υστερεω — hustereō to come behind, to be left, to fail. See Luke 21:4; 1 Thessalonians 3:10; 2 Corinthians 8:14; 2 Corinthians 9:12. [source]
1 Thessalonians 3:10 Exceedingly [υπερεκπερισσου]
Double compound adverb, only in 1 Thessalonians 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:13 (some MSS. ως — ̇ōs). Like piling Ossa on Pelion, περισσως — perissōs abundantly, εκ περισσου — ek perissou out of bounds, υπερεκπερισσου — huperekperissou more than out of bounds (overflowing all bounds). [source]
1 Thessalonians 2:9 Night and day [νυκτος και ημερας]
Genitive case, both by day and by night, perhaps beginning before dawn and working after dark. So in 1 Thessalonians 3:10. That we might not burden any of you (προς το μη επιβαρησαι τινα υμων — pros to mē epibarēsai tina humōn). Use of προς — pros with the articular infinitive to express purpose (only four times by Paul). The verb επιβαρεω — epibareō is late, but in the papyri and inscriptions for laying a burden (βαρος — baros) on (επι — epi̇) one. In N.T. only here and 2 Thessalonians 3:8; 2 Corinthians 2:5. Paul boasted of his financial independence where he was misunderstood as in Thessalonica and Corinth (2 Corinthians 9-12), though he vindicated his right to remuneration. We preached We heralded (from κηρυχ — kērux herald) to you, common verb for preach. [source]
2 Thessalonians 1:3 Groweth exceedingly [ὑπεραυξάνει]
N.T.oSee on 1 Thessalonians 3:10. [source]
2 Timothy 1:3 Night and day [νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας]
See 1 Timothy 5:5. The phrase in Paul, 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 3:10; 2 Thessalonians 3:8. Const. with greatly desiring. [source]
2 Timothy 1:4 Night and day [νυκτος και ημερας]
Genitive of time, “by night and by day.” As in 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 3:10. [source]
1 Peter 5:10 Shall himself perfect [αὐτὸς καταρτίσει]
The A. V. overlooks the αὐτὸς , himself, which is very significant as indicating God's personal interest and energy in the work of confirming his children. Shall perfect. Rev. reads restore, in margin. The root of this word appears in ἄρω or ἀραρίσκω , to fit or join together. So ἄρθρον means a joint. The radical notion of the verb is, therefore, adjustment - the-DIVIDER-
putting of all the parts into right relation and connection. We find it used of mending the nets (Matthew 4:21), and of restoring an erring brother (Galatians 6:1); of framing the body and the worlds (Hebrews 10:5; Hebrews 11:3); of the union of members in the church (1 Corinthians 1:10; 2 Corinthians 13:11). Out of this comes the general sense of perfecting (Matthew 21:16; Luke 6:40; 1 Thessalonians 3:10). [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Thessalonians 3:10 mean?

night and day exceedingly imploring for [us] - to see your face to supply the things lacking in the faith of you
νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ δεόμενοι εἰς τὸ ἰδεῖν ὑμῶν πρόσωπον καταρτίσαι τὰ ὑστερήματα τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν

νυκτὸς  night 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: νύξ  
Sense: night.
ἡμέρας  day 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: ἡμέρα  
Sense: the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night.
ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ  exceedingly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ὑπέρ 
Sense: in behalf of, for the sake of.
δεόμενοι  imploring 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: δέομαι  
Sense: to want, lack.
εἰς  for  [us] 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἰδεῖν  to  see 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: εἶδον 
Sense: to see with the eyes.
ὑμῶν  your 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
πρόσωπον  face 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: πρόσωπον  
Sense: the face.
καταρτίσαι  to  supply 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: καταρτίζω  
Sense: to render, i.e. to fit, sound, complete.
τὰ  the  things 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ὑστερήματα  lacking 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ὑστέρημα  
Sense: deficiency, that which is lacking.
τῆς  in  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πίστεως  faith 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: πίστις  
Sense: conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it.
ὑμῶν  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.