2 Thessalonians 1:3–4, King James Version
Italic words were supplied in the English translation for clarity.
2 Thessalonians 1:3–4
Thanksgiving Names Growing Faith, Love, and Endurance
They thank God because faith and love are still growing under fire
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet. Gratitude here is an obligation, not a mood. The reason is concrete: their faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth. Growth is named in two directions at once — trust toward God and love that actually reaches one another, not a private spirituality that leaves the neighbor untouched.
So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure. The team is not embarrassed by a bruised church. They boast about endurance that is still faith, not about the bruises themselves. Persecution is the setting of the thanksgiving. It is not a scoreboard, and it is not a reason to stop naming love.
How this should shape us
Thank God out loud for one person's trust and one person's care that you can actually see under pressure. Do not let affliction become the only story you tell about them, and do not wait for ease before you admit that faith can still grow.
Teach it back
Explain 2 Thessalonians 1:3–4 in your own words. Include its place in the letter, one exact textual observation, one important uncertainty or limit, and one conclusion the unit does not permit.
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Go deeper
The explanation above is meant to stand on its own. Open these notes only if you want language, history, disagreements, or source locations.
Where careful interpreters disagreeThe strongest options and their difficulties
Where do careful interpreters disagree?
Best judgment: Interpreters disagree about the concrete form and source of the pressure. The secure point is the rhetorical one: the church's present endurance, faith, and mutual love are publicly recognized while affliction continues.
How certain? probableResearch trail and exact locationsThe source record behind this section
Supports: The exact pinned KJV wording and immediate English context for 2 Thessalonians 1:3–4.
eBible/CrossWire eng-kjv2006 USFM, source files dated 2026-08-19, 2 Thessalonians 1:3–4; archive and normalized-corpus SHA-256 values are recorded in the library policy.
Supports: The critically edited Greek wording, connective structure, lexical forms, and variation markers.
Official SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/2Thess.txt, 2 Thessalonians 1:3–4.
Supports: Material translation choices, syntax, and textual variants checked at the cited verses.
NET Bible official 2 Thessalonians PDF, chapter 1, translator, study, and textual notes attached to verses 3–4; PDF pp. 1–2.
Supports: A complete modern evangelical commentary check on literary flow, historical setting, theology, and major interpretations.
David W. Chapman, The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary, “2 Thessalonians,” Thanksgiving for Their Persevering Faith and Love (1:3–4).
Supports: A modern Jewish-context and historical-critical check on authorship, apocalyptic language, persecution, judgment, ethics, and textual questions.
Adam Gregerman, “2 Thessalonians,” in The Jewish Annotated New Testament (2011 first edition), print p. 379.
Supports: A morphology and lexical-range cross-check for original-language notes.
STEP Bible Data repository, TAGNT and Greek lexical records, 2 Thessalonians 1:3–4.
Sources for This Section
These records identify the source, the claim it supports, and the exact location used. A source remains evidence to evaluate; it does not replace the biblical text.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: The exact pinned KJV wording and immediate English context for 2 Thessalonians 1:3–4.
Exact location: eBible/CrossWire eng-kjv2006 USFM, source files dated 2026-08-19, 2 Thessalonians 1:3–4; archive and normalized-corpus SHA-256 values are recorded in the library policy.
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: The critically edited Greek wording, connective structure, lexical forms, and variation markers.
Exact location: Official SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/2Thess.txt, 2 Thessalonians 1:3–4.
Open the 2 Thessalonians Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — 2 Thessalonians with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005–2026 online edition
Supports: Material translation choices, syntax, and textual variants checked at the cited verses.
Exact location: NET Bible official 2 Thessalonians PDF, chapter 1, translator, study, and textual notes attached to verses 3–4; PDF pp. 1–2.
Open NET 2 Thessalonians 1 ↗modern open commentary
2 Thessalonians
David W. Chapman
The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary, 2023
Supports: A complete modern evangelical commentary check on literary flow, historical setting, theology, and major interpretations.
Exact location: David W. Chapman, The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary, “2 Thessalonians,” Thanksgiving for Their Persevering Faith and Love (1:3–4).
Open source ↗modern annotated new testament
2 Thessalonians introduction and annotations in The Jewish Annotated New Testament
Adam Gregerman; edited by Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler
Oxford University Press, 2011
Supports: A modern Jewish-context and historical-critical check on authorship, apocalyptic language, persecution, judgment, ethics, and textual questions.
Exact location: Adam Gregerman, “2 Thessalonians,” in The Jewish Annotated New Testament (2011 first edition), print p. 379.
Open source ↗Lexical and grammatical evidence
STEP Bible Data
Tyndale House Cambridge
Tyndale House Cambridge, repository snapshot verified 2026
Supports: A morphology and lexical-range cross-check for original-language notes.
Exact location: STEP Bible Data repository, TAGNT and Greek lexical records, 2 Thessalonians 1:3–4.
Open source ↗