1 THESSALONIANS - CHAPTER 3
Verses 1-5
v1 When we could wait no longer for news about you, we decided to remain in Athens alone. v2 We sent Timothy, our brother, to you. He works for God with us to preach the good news about Christ. We sent him to help and encourage you, as you trust in God. v3 We were afraid that all the persecution would upset your faith. But you know that as Christians we should expect such troubles. v4 While we were still with you, we told you that we would have persecution. We told you before it happened. As you well know, it did happen. It happened just as we said that it would. v5 For this reason, I could no longer wait for news about you. So I sent to find out about your faith. We thought that somehow the tempter, who is the devil, could have led you away from the truth. If he had, then all our work would have been for nothing.
Commentary
Verse 1
When Paul had to leave Beroea, he went to Athens. But Silas and Timothy remained in Beroea (Acts 17:14). When he arrived in Athens, Paul sent a message asking Silas and Timothy to come to him. He waited for them there. Some time after they had come to him, they decided to send Timothy back to Thessalonica. It seems that Silas also left Paul in Athens and went into Macedonia. After this, Paul went from Athens to Corinth (Acts 18:1). Silas and Timothy came back to Paul in Corinth (Acts 18:5). They wrote this letter soon after they had met up again in Corinth.
They had not heard any news from Thessalonica. They were eager to know how the Christians were. They had tried many times to go back but they could not. They had become so anxious that they could wait no longer. They then decided to send Timothy. He could go for them. And he could find out what was happening.
Either at the same time or some time later, Silas left for Macedonia. This meant that Paul was alone in Athens. He was very lonely and in a strange city. He was sad not to have the company of his friends.
Verse 2
They had decided to send Timothy to Thessalonica to find out about the church there. In verse 5, Paul speaks about it as his decision. Timothy was special to Paul because he had asked Timothy to go with him to help him (Acts 16:3).
Both Paul and Silas thought highly of Timothy. He worked with and for God to spread the good news about Christ. The three of them worked together to bring people to know Christ.
They sent Timothy so that he could bring them news about the Christians at Thessalonica. But that was not the only purpose for his visit to them. Paul wanted him to encourage them in their trust in God. As he spoke with them and taught them, he would help them to be strong in their belief in Christ. They needed this help because there were many who opposed them.
Verse 3
Paul and his friends were anxious about the Christians at Thessalonica. They knew that the enemies of Christ would persecute them. They hoped that even as they suffered they would remain strong in their faith. Maybe, as they suffered, their faith would grow stronger. But there was a danger. The troubles that they had could cause them to lose their faith. It would have been so easy to deny Christ and so avoid the problems.
The Christians at Thessalonica knew that those who believe in Christ would have to suffer for Him. Paul and his friends had told them this while they were with them. Jesus said, ‘If they persecuted me, they will do so to you as well’ (John 15:20). Those who belong to Christ must expect to suffer. And they should be ready for it. Such troubles should not upset their trust in God. Rather the troubles are like tests. They prove that their trust in God is genuine.
Verse 4
Paul, Silas, and Timothy had warned them that there would be persecution. They told them many times that it was coming. The enemies of Christ caused them trouble while Paul was there. It was because of this that Paul and his friends had to leave Thessalonica. They went to Beroea. And again the enemies caused such trouble that Paul had to go from there. Paul had said that we who trust in Christ would have persecution. This included the Christians at Thessalonica as well as Paul and his friends.
The Thessalonians knew what would happen. They knew before it happened. And it did happen just as Paul, Silas, and Timothy said that it would.
Verse 5
Paul had tried several times to go back to Thessalonica but could not get there. He loved those Christians and desired to see them again. He wondered how they were when there were many who opposed them. He knew that they must have been suffering. He was so worried about them that he was impatient for news about them.
He wanted to know whether they were still trusting God. So, he sent Timothy to go and see. He wanted Timothy to bring him the news he badly wanted.
They knew that, in all the troubles, the devil was at work. He would try to get them to stop trusting in God. Paul and his friends thought that the devil could have succeeded. It was possible, in their minds, that the Thessalonians could have given in. They could have denied the Lord. If that had happened, then all their efforts would have been of no use. They had suffered much but it would have achieved nothing. That is why they were so anxious to hear whether the Thessalonians were still trusting in God or not.
Verses 6-10
v6 Now Timothy has come back to us from you. He has brought us good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always think well of us. He says that you want to see us just as much as we want to see you. v7 So, brothers and sisters, in all our trouble and suffering, news about you has made us strong. Your faith has encouraged us. v8 Because now we really live, because your trust in the Lord is so strong. v9 We cannot thank God too much for you. When we come to him, we thank him. We thank him for all the joy that we have because of you. v10 We pray every night and day that we might see you soon. We have more to teach you about how God wants you to live.
Commentary
Verse 6
Silas and Timothy came back from their journeys and met Paul again in Corinth (Acts 18:5). As soon as Timothy had told them about the faith of the Thessalonians, they wrote this letter. His report pleased them so much that they called it ‘good news’. Apart from here, the Greek word for ‘good news’ in the New Testament means the good news about Jesus Christ. The good news about Jesus Christ is the gospel. This use of this word here shows how the report from Timothy excited them. They had been so anxious and worried for the Thessalonians. But now, the news brought them comfort and much joy.
The faith and love of the Thessalonians, that they had when they first trusted in Christ, were still there. The persecution of men and the work of the devil could not spoil their trust in God. The effect of all these troubles seems to have been to make them stronger in their faith in God. In the same way, Timothy saw that they continued to love other people.
The Thessalonians had good memories of the time when Paul, Silas and Timothy were there. They had come to love and respect the three of them. The people who opposed them said many things against Paul and his friends. Paul felt the need to show that these things were false (see chapter 2). But the Christians knew that these things were not true. These things had no effect on their feelings for them. They knew what kind of men Paul, Silas and Timothy were. They still trusted them and respected them. And they still loved them.
The Christians at Thessalonica told Timothy that they really would like to see Paul and Silas again. Their desire to meet again was just as strong as the desire of Paul and Silas. They loved them as members of the same family, because all those who believe in the Lord Jesus are children of God. So, they with Paul, Silas and Timothy were all in God’s family. Paul thought of himself as a father to them (1 Thessalonians 2:11). Such was the care and love he, with Silas and Timothy, had for them.
Verse 7
Paul and Silas were having a difficult time. In every town that they went to there were those who opposed them. They suffered many attacks on them both in words and in actions. They had to work very hard both to keep themselves and to teach the people. More than all of this, they had the care of the churches on their minds and hearts. Paul felt weak and afraid there in Corinth (1 Corinthians 3:3). They were tired and struggling.
It was at that time, when they felt so weak that Timothy came with good news. In all their troubles, his report was a comfort to them. It encouraged them so much that they felt a lot better. They were strong again and ready for the tasks before them.
It was the news that the Thessalonians were strong in their faith, which so encouraged Paul and Silas. They had depended on God for help in the time of trouble. So, Paul and Silas found a new strength to trust God in all of their problems.
Verse 8
The news that Timothy brought seemed to bring new life to Paul and Silas. The fact that the Christians at Thessalonica were still trusting in God made all the hard work worthwhile. They were encouraged and it brought them a new joy. After all the worry, they now felt a great relief. In all their troubles, life was now worth living. Because the Thessalonians were so strong, it gave to Paul and Silas new energy to continue their work.
Verse 9
What Paul, Silas and Timothy had done had been a success. What had happened showed that. They had achieved what they went to Thessalonica to do. They had established the church there so well that it did not fail when troubles came. But that is not how Paul and his friends saw it. They knew that it was not what they did. Rather, it was the work of the Holy Spirit. God had given strength to those Christians so that they did not fail.
For this reason, Paul, Silas and Timothy thank God for them. Words cannot express the thanks that they feel inside themselves. God has done so much for the Christians at Thessalonica that they cannot thank him enough.
When Paul and his friends pray to God, they thank him for the joy that they feel. They have this joy because they love the Thessalonians. They are happy that the Thessalonians are still trusting in God. They are happy that the Thessalonians feel the same way about them.
Verse 10
‘Night and day’ does not mean that they prayed once in the evening and once in the morning. It means that they continued to pray both during the night and in the day. Again, and again they asked God that they might soon see the Thessalonians.
The reason for their prayers was not only that they wanted to be with the Thessalonians again. It was also so that they could teach them more to help them to live as Christians should. They knew that the Thessalonians needed further instruction. They could see that there was some confusion in what the Thessalonians believed. And some there did not live as they should. And they needed correction.
It was not likely that they would meet soon. So, the next two chapters teach about these problems.
Verses 11-13
v11 Now we ask God himself (who is our Father), and our Lord Jesus, to lead us to you again. v12 We ask the Lord to make your love for each other and for all people grow more and more, even as we love you. v13 In this way he will make you strong. God will make you holy and ready for the return of the Lord Jesus when he comes with his saints.
Commentary
Verse 11
Prayer is speaking with God. Here they pray to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. This shows that God the Father and Jesus the Son act together as one. The Lord Jesus said, ‘I and my Father are one’ (John 10:30). The writers believe and teach that Jesus is God.
As they tried to get back to Thessalonica, they found that they could not do it (2:18). Each time they tried to return, Satan prevented them. Therefore, they asked God to remove all that had stopped them and to lead them back to the Thessalonians. Paul did return to Macedonia about five years later (Acts 20:1). It is likely that, while in Macedonia, he visited them.
Verse 12
By the Lord, we understand them to mean the Lord Jesus. They ask the Lord to cause the Thessalonians to love each other more than they already do. It is not just that their love may increase. They ask that the love of the Christians may flow like a river in flood. They want it to go beyond their friends and reach to all people. And they want it to grow always wider and deeper.
The Christians at Thessalonica knew how much Paul, Silas and Timothy loved them. These three gave themselves so that they might share the love of God with them. They were ready to suffer and they did suffer because they loved them so much. This love is then an example to them of the kind of love that they should have.
Verse 13
The aim of these prayers is that the Lord will give them inner strength. As love for God and for other people grows, this will make them stronger Christians. Such love is like a firm foundation for their lives. It gives purpose to life and a confidence in the Lord.
Those who love like this will want to know and please God their Father. They will desire to know him more than all else. The Lord Jesus forgives all their sin. So they will be pure and holy when they stand in front of God. This will be when the Lord Jesus comes again. Paul was looking forward to that day. That is when God will say that they are without blame.
The Lord Jesus will come again with all his saints. Saints in the New Testament are not special persons whom the church has called saints. They are all those who trust in and belong to Christ.
The time when the Lord Jesus comes includes more than one event. He will meet with the saints in the air. This will include both those who have died and those who are still living (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). There will be a time when the Lord Jesus will reward those who have served him (1 Thessalonians 2:19). Then God will declare that the saints are holy. And then all the saints will come with the Lord Jesus (1 Thessalonians 3:13).
Those who love the Lord Jesus can look forward to his coming. It will be a time of much joy and blessing to them. There will be no more pain and suffering. They will see their Lord and they will live with him always after that. Such a future hope should encourage them now to live for the Lord.
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