1 Thessalonians 3:1-13

section iv

St Paul's Present Relations to the Thessalonians. Ch. 1 Thessalonians 2:17 to 1 Thessalonians 3:13

The Apostle had been drawn aside in the last paragraph, by a sudden and characteristic burst of feeling, from the main purpose of his letter. To this he now returns. 1 Thessalonians 2:17 might follow quite naturally upon 1 Thessalonians 2:12. Having recalled to his readers the circumstances of his arrival at Thessalonica and the manner of his life amongst them, he goes on to speak of the feelings and views which he now entertains in regard to them. And he continues in this vein to the end of ch. 3. He speaks (1) of his great desire to revisit themand the attempts he has made to do so, 1 Thessalonians 2:17; (2) he relates how he sent Tïmothywith messages and enquiries when he found this impossible, ch. 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5; (3) he expresses his satisfaction at the reportTimothy has brought back to him, 1 Thessalonians 2:6; and (4) he repeats his thanksgivingand his longing to see them, with prayersboth on this account and for their final acceptance in the day of Christ, 1 Thessalonians 2:9.

We may suppose that St Paul's enemies, while they set down the preaching of the missionaries in the first instance to base motives (see note to 1 Thessalonians 2:3), went on to insinuate that the Apostle's continued absence showed his unconcern for his persecuted followers. (Comp. Introd.pp. 23, 24.) Hence the warmth and energy of his protestations.