1 Thessalonians 2:17

Text (1 Thessalonians 2:17)

17 But we, brethren, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence not in heart, endeavored the more exceedingly to see your face with great desire:

Translation and Paraphrase

17.

But we, brethren, being bereaved (by our separation) from you, (like a father is grieved when he has lost his children, even though it has been but) for a (short) time (such as the passing) of an hour, (and we have been separated from you only) in presence, not in heart, we, (because of our grief) have hurried (about, seeking) more abundantly (than you can imagine) to see your face with great desire.

Notes (1 Thessalonians 2:17)

1.

Can you imagine how a father in a Communistic country would feel to see his children taken out of his house by the police, and sent away to state schools, while he himself was sent off to a slave labor camp? Paul's feelings when he was driven away from the Thessalonians were equally intense.

Paul uses the word aporphanidzo (the root of which gives us our word orphan) to describe his feelings, The word means to bereave, as one separated from parent or child.

We love the churches where we have served. But probably most preachers do not have the intensity of love and yearning for them that Paul had.

2.

Paul had not been separated from the Thessalonians very long when he wrote this letter. He says it was a short time, such as the time of an hour. McGarvey says that this short time was about six months. But though the time had not been long, the pain of being separated was not any less keen.

3.

Christian people have many farewells to say in this life. Thank God, we shall not have these in the world to come. But even in this life, Christians are not separated in heart nor affection, merely in presence. Thus Paul was separated from the Thessalonians only in presence, not in heart. Paul wrote a similar thought to the Colossians. Colossians 2:5.

4.

We do not know just what all Paul had done to try to get back to Thessalonica. But he had earnestly endeavoured (literally, hastened or hurried about) to get back to see them.

5.

Not only did Paul desire to get back to see the Thessalonians, but he also desired to see his brethren in other places. He wrote to the Romans, I long to see you. Romans 1:11; Romans 1:13. Paul's heart was big enough to love all of his brethren with all of him. Like a parent with a dozen children, he did not love any of them the less, just because there were so many to love.