1 Thessalonians 3:1-13
1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, directa our way unto you.
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:
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.b
The Mission of Timothy to Thessalonica. Paul's distress and anxiety with regard to the fate of the Church led him to send Timothy upon a mission of inquiry. He describes the effect produced upon him by Timothy's reassuring report.
1 Thessalonians 3:2. sent Timothy: in * Acts 17:14 f; Acts 18:5, Silas and Timothy left Paul at Berœ a on the sea-coast and did not rejoin him till after his arrival at Corinth. It is possible, however, that Timothy followed him to Athens and was subsequently despatched to Thessalonica. to establish: the object of Timothy's mission was: (a) to consolidate the Church, (b) to comfort the Christians in the face of persecution.
1 Thessalonians 3:3. we were appointed: i.e. to tribulation (cf. Acts 14:22).
1 Thessalonians 3:5. the tempter: Satan.
1 Thessalonians 3:7. in all our distress refers to the difficulties and disappointments connected with the European mission (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:3).
1 Thessalonians 3:8. now we live: the reassuring tidings brought new life to Paul. We learn from Acts 18 and 1 Corinthians 2:3 that he had arrived at Corinth in a very depressed condition, but the return of Timothy restored his flagging courage and made him throw himself into his work with new zest.
1 Thessalonians 3:11. Paul's prayer for the Thessalonians contains three petitions: (a) that the apostle may be enabled to return, (b) that the Thessalonians themselves may be established in holiness, (c) that the Church may increase and abound.
1 Thessalonians 3:11. Note the linking of the Lord Jesus with God in this verse (pp. 807 f.).
1 Thessalonians 3:12. increase and abound: Thessalonica is described as a model Church in 1 Thessalonians 1:7, yet there are further possibilities before it, and Paul gives it, as a motto for the future, the injunction increase and abound; cf. also 1 Thessalonians 4:1 and 1 Thessalonians 4:10.
1 Thessalonians 3:13. with all his saints: at the Parousia Christ is to be accompanied by all His saints, i.e. those who have fallen asleep in Christ (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:14).