1 Thessalonians 3:11

Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.

1 Thessalonians 3:11, King James Version

1 Thessalonians 3:11 in other translations

BSB	Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.
WEB	Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.
ASV	Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way unto you:
YLT	And our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you,
DARBY	But our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.
BBE	Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus make a way for us to come to you;
Webster	Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.

What does 1 Thessalonians 3:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

11. Translate, "May God Himself, even our Father (there being but one article in the Greek, requires this translation, 'He who is at once God and our Father'), direct," &c. The "Himself" stands in contrast with "we" (1Th 2:18); we desired to come but could not through Satan's hindrance; but if God Himself direct our way (as we pray), none can hinder Him (2Th 2:16, 17). It is a remarkable proof of the unity of the Father and Son, that in the Greek here, and in 2Th 2:16, 17, the verb is singular, implying that the subject, the Father and Son, are but one in essential Being, not in mere unity of will. Almost all the chapters in both Epistles to the Thessalonians are sealed, each with its own prayer (1Th 5:23; 2Th 1:11; 2:16; 3:5, 16) [Bengel]. Paul does not think the prosperous issue of a journey an unfit subject for prayer (Ro 1:10; 15:32) [Edmunds]. His prayer, though the answer was deferred, in about five years afterwards was fulfilled in his return to Macedonia.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 11. Now God himself. This is evidently a prayer, he earnestly sought of God that he might be permitted to visit them, and that he would so prepare the way that he might do it.

And our Father. Even our Father. The reference is particularly to the 'Father,' the First Person of the Trinity. It does not refer to the Divine nature in general, or to God as such, but to God as the Father of the Lord Jesus. It is a distinct prayer offered to him that he would direct his way to them. It is right, therefore, to offer prayer to God as the First Person of the Trinity.

And our Lord Jesus Christ. This also is a prayer, as much as the former was, for it can be understood in no other way. What can be its meaning, unless the apostle believed that the Lord Jesus had power to direct his way to them, and that it was proper for him to express this wish to him; that is, to pray to him? If this be so, then it is right to pray to the Lord Jesus, or to worship him. Jn 20:28; Acts 1:24. Would Paul have prayed to an angel to direct his way to the church at Thessalonica?

Direct our way unto you. Marg., guide. The Greek word κατευθυνω means, to guide straight towards or upon anything. It is rendered guide, in Lk 1:79, and direct here and in 2Th 3:5. It does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. The idea is that of conducting one straight to a place, and not by a round-about course. Here the petition is, that God would remove all obstacles so that he could come directly to them.

(1) "direct" "guide"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 11 Now God himself and our Father - That is: God who is our Father, who has adopted us into the heavenly family, and called us his sons and daughters. Direct our way - As he was employed in God's work he dared not consult his own inclinations, he looked for continual directions from God, where, when, and how to do his Master's work.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

Prayer is religious worship, and all religious worship is due unto God only. Prayer is to be offered to God as our Father. Prayer is not only to be offered in the name of Christ, but offered up to Christ himself, as our Lord and our Saviour. Let us acknowledge God in all our ways, and he will direct our paths. Mutual love is required of all Christians. And love is of God, and is fulfilling the gospel as well as the law. We need the Spirit's influences in order to our growth in grace; and the way to obtain them, is prayer. Holiness is required of all who would go to heaven; and we must act so that we do not contradict the profession we make of holiness. The Lord Jesus will certainly come in his glory; his saints will come with him. Then the excellence as well as the necessity of holiness will appear; and without this no hearts shall be established at that day, nor shall any avoid condemnation.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Thessalonians 3:11 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΑὐτὸςAutosHimselfG846

δὲdenowG1161

ὁhotheG3588

θεὸςtheosGodG2316

καὶkaiandG2532

πατὴρpatērFatherG3962

ἡμῶνhēmōnof usG3165

καὶkaiandG2532

ὁhotheG3588

κύριοςkuriosLordG2962

ἡμῶνhēmōnof usG3165

ἸησοῦςIēsousJesusG2424

ΧριστόςChristosChristG5547

κατευθύναιkateuthunaiwould directG2720

τὴνtēntheG3588

ὁδὸνhodonwayG3598

ἡμῶνhēmōnof usG3165

πρὸςprostoG4314

ὑμᾶς·humasyou;G4771

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Thessalonians 3:11

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Matthew 6:32
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
2 Thessalonians 2:16
Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
1 Thessalonians 3:13
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.
Luke 12:32
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Matthew 6:26
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Matthew 6:6
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Luke 12:30
For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
Mark 1:3
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Malachi 1:6
A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
2 Thessalonians 3:5
And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
Matthew 6:8-9
Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

God.
13; Isa 63:16; Jer 31:9; Mal 1:6; Mt 6:4,6,8,9,14,18,26,32
Lu 12:30,32; Joh 20:17; 2Co 6:18; Col 1:2; 1Jo 3:1
and our Lord.
Ro 1:3; 2Th 2:16
direct. or, guide. our way.
Ezr 8:21-23; Pr 3:5,6; Mr 1:3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

1 Thessalonians 3:10
Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
1 Thessalonians 3:11
Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.
1 Thessalonians 3:12
And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

Read all of 1 Thessalonians 3

1 Thessalonians 3:11 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Mas el mismo Dios y Padre nuestro, y el Señor nuestro Jesucristo, encamine nuestro viaje á vosotros.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Or que notre Dieu et Père lui-même, et notre seigneur Jésus, nous fraie le chemin auprès de vous;
German Elberfelder 1871	Unser Gott und Vater selbst aber und unser Herr Jesus richte unseren Weg zu euch.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Ipse autem Deus, et Pater noster, et Dominus noster Jesus Christus, dirigat viam nostram ad vos.