The Meaning of 1 Thessalonians 3:12 Explained

1 Thessalonians 3:12

KJV: And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

YLT: and you the Lord cause to increase and to abound in the love to one another, and to all, even as we also to you,

Darby: But you, may the Lord make to exceed and abound in love toward one another, and toward all, even as we also towards you,

ASV: and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we also do toward you;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  the Lord  make  you  to increase  and  abound  in love  one  toward  another,  and  toward  all  [men], even  as  we  [do] toward  you: 

What does 1 Thessalonians 3:12 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 3:12

The Lord [ο Κυριος]
The Lord Jesus. Paul prays to Christ. [source]
Make you to increase [υμας πλεονασαι]
First aorist active optative (wish for future) of πλεοναζω — pleonazō late verb from πλεον — pleon (more), to superabound. And abound (περισσευσαι — perisseusai). First aorist active optative (wish for future) of περισσευω — perisseuō from περισσος — perissos old verb, to be over (common in N.T.). It is hard to see much difference between the two verbs. [source]
to superabound []
. And abound (περισσευσαι — perisseusai). First aorist active optative (wish for future) of περισσευω — perisseuō from περισσος — perissos old verb, to be over (common in N.T.). It is hard to see much difference between the two verbs. [source]
And abound [περισσευσαι]
First aorist active optative (wish for future) of περισσευω — perisseuō from περισσος — perissos old verb, to be over (common in N.T.). It is hard to see much difference between the two verbs. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Thessalonians 3:12

1 Thessalonians 2:2 Having been shamefully entreated [ὑβρισθέντες]
Comp. Luke href="/desk/?q=lu+18:32&sr=1">Luke 18:32; Acts 14:5. This may have been added because προπαθόντες alone might denote the experience of something good; but it is more probably intended as an expansion and illustration of that word. Paul's sensitiveness to personal indignity appears in the narrative in 1Thessalonians href="/desk/?q=1th+1:5&sr=1">1 Thessalonians 1:5, 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 2:1, 1 Thessalonians 2:5, 1 Thessalonians 2:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:11; 1 Thessalonians 3:3, 1 Thessalonians 3:4, 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:6, 1 Thessalonians 4:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; 2 Thessalonians 3:1, 2 Thessalonians 3:2. [source]
1 Thessalonians 3:11 Direct our way [κατευτυναι την οδον ημων]
First aorist optative (acute accent on penult, not circumflex first aorist active infinitive) of κατευτυνω — kateuthunō old verb to make straight path. Singular verb also, though both God and Christ mentioned as subject (unity in the Godhead). Apart from μη γενοιτο — mē genoito (may it not come to pass) the optative in a wish of the third person is found in N.T. only in 1 Thessalonians 3:11, 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:5, 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Romans 15:5, Romans 15:13. [source]
1 Thessalonians 3:11 And our Lord Jesus [και ο Κυριος ημων Ιησους]
Separate article here with Ιησους — Iēsous In Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 1:1 only one article (not two) treating “our God and Saviour Jesus Christ” as one just like “our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” in 2 Peter 1:11; 2 Peter 2:20; 2 Peter 3:18. Direct our way (κατευτυναι την οδον ημων — kateuthunai tēn hodon hēmōn). First aorist optative (acute accent on penult, not circumflex first aorist active infinitive) of κατευτυνω — kateuthunō old verb to make straight path. Singular verb also, though both God and Christ mentioned as subject (unity in the Godhead). Apart from μη γενοιτο — mē genoito (may it not come to pass) the optative in a wish of the third person is found in N.T. only in 1 Thessalonians 3:11, 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:5, 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Romans 15:5, Romans 15:13. [source]
2 Thessalonians 1:3 Aboundeth [πλεοναζει]
Same verb in 1 Thessalonians 3:12, here a fulfilment of the prayer made there. Milligan finds diffusive growth of love in this word because of “each one” Frame finds in this fulfilment of the prayer of 1 Thessalonians 3:12 one proof that II Thessalonians is later than I Thessalonians. [source]
2 Thessalonians 1:3 Even as it is meet [κατως αχιον εστιν]
Οπειλομεν — Opheilomen points to the divine, αχιον — axion to the human side of the obligation (Lightfoot), perhaps to cheer the fainthearted in a possible letter to him in reply to Paul‘s First Thessalonian epistle (Milligan). This adjective αχιος — axios is from αγω — agō to drag down the scales, and so weighty, worthy, worthwhile, old word and appropriate here. For that your faith groweth exceedingly (οτι υπεραυχανει η πιστις υμων — hoti huperauxanei hē pistis humōn). Causal use of οτι — hoti referring to the obligation stated in οπειλομεν — opheilomen The verb υπεραυχανω — huperauxanō is one of Paul‘s frequent compounds in υπερ — huper (υπερβαινω — hupeṙbainō 1 Thessalonians 4:6; υπερεκτεινω — hupeṙek̇teinō 2 Corinthians 10:14; υπερεντυγχανω — hupeṙeṅtugchanō Romans 8:26; υπερνικαω — hupeṙnikaō Romans 8:37; υπερπλεοναζω — hupeṙpleonazō 1 Timothy 1:14) and occurs only here in N.T. and rare elsewhere (Galen, Dio Cass.). Figure of the tree of faith growing above (υπερ — huper) measure. Cf. parable of Jesus about faith-like a grain of mustard seed (Matthew 13:31.). Aboundeth Same verb in 1 Thessalonians 3:12, here a fulfilment of the prayer made there. Milligan finds diffusive growth of love in this word because of “each one” Frame finds in this fulfilment of the prayer of 1 Thessalonians 3:12 one proof that II Thessalonians is later than I Thessalonians. [source]
2 Peter 1:8 For if these things are yours and abound [ταυτα γαρ υμιν υπαρχοντα και πλεοναζοντα]
Present active circumstantial (conditional) participles neuter plural of υπαρχω — huparchō and πλεοναζω — pleonazō (see 1 Thessalonians 3:12) with dative case υμιν — humin “these things existing for you (or in you) and abounding.” [source]
1 John 2:5 Is the love of God perfected [ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ Θεοῦ τετελείωται]
Rev., rendering the perfect tense more closely, hath the love of God been perfected. The change in the form of this antithetic clause is striking. He who claims to know God, yet lives in disobedience, is a liar. We should expect as an offset to this: He that keepeth His commandments is of the truth; or, the truth is in him. Instead we have, “In him has the love of God been perfected.” In other words, the obedient child of God is characterized, not by any representative trait or quality of his own personality, but merely as the subject of the work of divine love: as the sphere in which that love accomplishes its perfect work. The phrase ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ Θεοῦ the love of God, may mean either the love which God shows, or the love of which God is the object, or the love which is characteristic of God whether manifested by Himself or by His obedient child through His Spirit. John's usage is not decisive like Paul's, according to which the love of God habitually means the love which proceeds from and is manifested by God. The exact phrase, the love of God or the love of the Father, is found in 1 John 3:16; 1 John 4:9, in the undoubted sense of the love of God to men. The same sense is intended in 1 John 3:1, 1 John 3:9, 1 John 3:16, though differently expressed. The sense is doubtful in 1 John 2:5; 1 John 3:17; 1 John 4:12. Men's love to God is clearly meant in 1 John 2:15; 1 John 5:3. The phrase occurs only twice in the Gospels (Luke 6:42; John 5:42), and in both cases the sense is doubtful. Some, as Ebrard, combine the two, and explain the love of God as the mutual relation of love between God and men. It is not possible to settle the point decisively, but I incline to the view that the fundamental idea of the love of God as expounded by John is the love which God has made known and which answers to His nature. In favor of this is the general usage of ἀγάπη lovein the New Testament, with the subjective genitive. The object is more commonly expressed by εἰς towardsor to. See 1 Thessalonians 3:12; Colossians 1:4; 1 Peter 4:8. Still stronger is John's treatment of the subject in ch. 4. Here we have, 1 John 4:9, the manifestation of the love of God in us ( ἐν ἡμῖν ) By our life in Christ and our love to God we are a manifestation of God's love. Directly following this is a definition of the essential nature of love. “In this is love; i.e., herein consists love: not that we have loved God, but that He loved us ” (1 John 4:10). Our mutual love is a proof that God dwells in us. God dwelling in us, His love is perfected in us (1 John 4:12). The latter clause, it would seem, must be explained according to 1 John 4:10. Then (1 John 4:16), “We have known and believed the love that God hath in us ” (see on John 16:22, on the phrase have love ). “God is love;” that is His nature, and He imparts this nature to be the sphere in which His children dwell. “He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God.” Finally, our love is engendered by His love to us. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
In harmony with this is John 15:9. “As the Father loved me, I also loved you. Continue ye in my love.” My love must be explained by I loved you. This is the same idea of divine love as the sphere or element of renewed being; and this idea is placed, as in the passage we are considering, in direct connection with the keeping of the divine commandments. “If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love.”-DIVIDER-
This interpretation does not exclude man's love to God. On the contrary, it includes it. The love which God has, is revealed as the love of God in the love of His children towards Him, no less than in His manifestations of love to them. The idea of divine love is thus complex. Love, in its very essence, is reciprocal. Its perfect ideal requires two parties. It is not enough to tell us, as a bare, abstract truth, that God is love. The truth must be rounded and filled out for us by the appreciable exertion of divine love upon an object, and by the response of the object. The love of God is perfected or completed by the perfect establishment of the relation of love between God and man. When man loves perfectly, his love is the love of God shed abroad in his heart. His love owes both its origin and its nature to the love of God. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
The word verily ( ἀληθῶς ) is never used by John as a mere formula of affirmation, but has the meaning of a qualitative adverb, expressing not merely the actual existence of a thing, but its existence in a manner most absolutely corresponding to ἀλήθεια truthCompare John 1:48; John 8:31. Hath been perfected. John is presenting the ideal of life in God. “This is the love of God that we keep His commandments.” Therefore whosoever keepeth God's word, His message in its entirety, realizes the perfect relation of love. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Thessalonians 3:12 mean?

You now the Lord may make to increase and to abound - in love toward one another all just as also we
ὑμᾶς δὲ Κύριος πλεονάσαι καὶ περισσεύσαι τῇ ἀγάπῃ εἰς ἀλλήλους πάντας καθάπερ καὶ ἡμεῖς

δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
Κύριος  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
πλεονάσαι  may  make  to  increase 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Optative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: πλεονάζω  
Sense: to superabound.
περισσεύσαι  to  abound 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Optative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: περισσεύω  
Sense: to exceed a fixed number of measure, to be left over and above a certain number or measure.
τῇ  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀγάπῃ  in  love 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀγάπη  
Sense: brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence.
εἰς  toward 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
ἀλλήλους  one  another 
Parse: Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀλλήλων  
Sense: one another, reciprocally, mutually.
καθάπερ  just  as 
Parse: Adverb
Root: καθάπερ 
Sense: according as, just as, even as.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.