1 Thessalonians 3

1 Thessalonians 3:1

E. The Mission of Timothy to Thessalonica (3:1-10) The words your faith occur five times in chapter 3 (vv. 2, 5, 6, 7, 10) and are a key to understanding the passage. The Thessalonians were passing through severe persecution, and Paul was anxious to know how their faith was standing up to the test. Thus the chapter is a lesson on the importance of follow-up work. It is not enough to lead sinners to the Savior. They must be helped to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord. 3:1 In chapter 3 we continue to hear the heartbeat of Paul as he expresses his undying interest in the saints at Thessalonica. While he was in Athens he developed an intolerable craving to know how his converts were getting on. Satan had hindered his personal return. Finally he could not stand inaction any longer; he decided to send Timothy to the Thessalonians, while he remained in Athens alone. (The we is editorial.) There is a certain sadness to think of him there alone. The sights of a great city held no attraction for him; he was burdened with the care of the churches. 3:2 Notice the degrees after Timothy’s name: our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ. The word minister here and elsewhere in the NT simply means servant. The idea of a separate class known as clergymen originated in later years. What a privilege it was for Timothy to serve his apprenticeship under the beloved brother Paul! Now that he has proved himself, he is sent on a mission to Thessalonica alone. The purpose of the trip was to establish the saints and encourage them concerning their faith. They had been persecuted because of their confession of Christ. This was a critical time for the young converts; Satan was probably dropping subtle suggestions that maybe they were wrong after all in becoming Christians! It would be interesting to hear Timothy as he taught them to expect opposition, to bear it bravely, and to rejoice in it. They needed encouragement not to buckle under the pressure of opposition. 3:3 In the heat of persecution, it would be easy for the Thessalonians to think it strange that they should suffer so severely, and to wonder if God was displeased with them. Timothy reminded them that it wasn’t strange at all: this is normal for Christians, so they shouldn’t be shaken or lose heart. 3:4 Paul reminds them that even when he was in Thessalonica, he used to tell them that Christians were appointed to afflictions. His prediction came true in their own lives. How well they knew it! Trials form a necessary discipline in our lives:

1. They prove the reality of our faith, and weed out those who are mere professors (1Pe_1:7).
2. They enable us to comfort and encourage others who are going through trials (2Co_1:4).
3. They develop certain graces, such as endurance, in our character (Rom_5:3).
4. They make us more zealous in spreading the gospel (Act_4:29; Act_5:27-29; Act_8:3-4).
5. They help to remove the dross from our lives (Job_23:10). 3:5 The apostle repeats the substance of verses 1 and 2: when further delay proved unendurable for him, he sent Timothy to find out how the Christians there were weathering the storm. His great anxiety was that the devil might have tricked them into giving up their aggressive Christian testimony in exchange for relaxation of the persecution. It is the ever-present temptation to swap loyalty to Christ for personal comfort, to by-pass the cross in pursuit of a crown. Who of us does not have to pray, Forgive me, Lord, for so often finding ways to avoid the pain and sacrifice of discipleship. Strengthen me today to walk with You no matter what the cost.If Satan had induced the saints to recant, then Paul felt his labor there would have been for nothing. 3:6 Timothy came back to Corinth from the Thessalonians with good news. First of all, he reassured Paul concerning their faith and love. They were not only standing true to the teachings of the Christian faith, but they were also manifesting the distinctive virtue of love. This is ever the test of realitynot just an orthodox acceptance of the Christian creed, but faith working through love (Gal_5:6). Not just your faith in the Lord Jesus but also your love for all the saints (Eph_1:15). Was it significant that Timothy mentioned their faith and love, but omitted any reference to their hope? Had the devil shaken their confidence in the return of Christ? Possibly. As William Lincoln said, The devil hates that doctrine because he knows the power of it in our lives. If their hope was defective, Paul certainly seeks to repair it in this Epistle of hope. Timothy also reported that the Thessalonians had kind memories of the apostle and his friends, and that they were as anxious for a reunion as Paul, Silas, and Timothy were. 3:7 This news was like cold water to Paul’s thirsty soul (Pro_25:25). In all his distress and affliction, he was greatly encouraged by their faith. 3:8 He exclaims, For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. The suspense of not knowing had been a living death to him. Now life quickly returned when he heard that all was well. What a commentary this is on the unselfish devotion of this great man of God! 3:9 Words failed to express adequately to God the thanks which filled Paul’s heart. His cup of joy was overflowing every time he remembered them before his God. 3:10 Paul’s prayer life was habitual, not spasmodic: night and day. It was intensely fervent: praying exceedingly. It was specific: that we may see your face. And it was altruistic: that we may … perfect what is lacking in your faith.

1 Thessalonians 3:11

F. Paul’s Specific Prayer (3:11-13) 3:11 The chapter closes with Paul’s prayer for a return trip to them, and for the development of even greater love in them. The request is addressed to our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Then this plural subject is followed by a singular verb. This usage indicates the deity of Christ and the unity of the Godhead. 3:12 The Thessalonians had actually been commendable in manifesting true Christian love, but there is always room for development. And so he prays for a deeper measure: may the Lord make you increase and abound in love. Their love should embrace their fellow believers and all men, including their enemies. Its model or pattern should be the love of the apostles: just as we do to you. 3:13 The result of love in this life is blamelessness in the next. If we love one another and all mankind, we will stand blameless in holiness before our God when Christ comes with all His saints, for love is the fulfilling of the law (Rom_13:8; Jam_2:8). Someone has paraphrased the prayer as follows: The Lord enable you more and more to spend your lives in the interests of others, in order that He may so establish you in Christian character now, that you might be vindicated from every charge that might possibly be brought against you … .In chapter 2 we saw that the coming of Christ has several stages or phases: a beginning, a course, a manifestation, and a climax. It is the third phase that is referred to in verse 13: the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. The Judgment Seat of Christ will have already taken place in heaven. The awards will already have been made. But these awards will be manifested to all when the Savior returns to earth as King of kings and Lord of lords. Saints here probably means those believers who have been caught up to heaven at the time of the Rapture (1Th_4:14). Some think that it means angels, but Vincent says it refers to the holy and glorified people of God. He points out that angels have nothing to do with anything in this Epistle, but that glorified believers are closely connected with the subject that was troubling the Thessalonians. He adds, This does not exclude the attendance of angels on the Lord’s coming, but when Paul speaks of such attendance, he says with the angels of his power, as in 2Th_1:7.