1 Thessalonians 3:13 – With All His Saints

13 to establish your hearts unblamable in holiness in front of our God and Father, in the presence of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.

This verse follows directly from the preceding one. The Lord causes the Thessalonians to increase in love in order to establish their hearts. What does this establishing involve? Paul directs their attention to the presence (parousia) of Jesus Christ, when they will stand unblamable before God. This is not a wish, but a certain prospect. For later, Paul assures them that God will preserve them blameless in the presence of the Lord. He Who calls them is faithful and will do it (5:23,24)!

Paul speaks of the presence of the Lord Jesus “with all His saints.” In Scripture, “saints” refers to people who belong to God. Angels are indeed called “holy angels,” but never simply “the saints.” Paul therefore has in mind believers who will be with the Lord at His parousia.

How did they come to be with Him? Paul will explain this in the next chapter. At the parousia of the Lord, the dead in Christ are raised and, together with the living believers, snatched away to meet the Lord in the air (4:15-17). Thus, the saints are first gathered to Him, to be together with Him always thereafter. In this single sentence, Paul already paints the glorious prospect: the Lord Jesus at His presence, with all His saints!

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