1st Thessalonians Chapter
Three Commentary by
Ron Beckham
Audio Bible Study - 1 Thess. 3:1-5
Verse 1. "Therefore when we could endure it no longer,
we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone,"
This verse and the next reflect Paul's recollection of the events
recorded by Dr. Luke in Acts 17:1-10. Paul and his companions had been in
the city of Thessalonica, but they were required to leave suddenly when
Jewish-Thessalonians incited a mob against them. Paul and his companion,
Silas, escaped to the city of Berea, but had to again leave in a hurry because Thessalonian Jews followed them and stirred-up angry crowds once more (Acts
17:10-15).
Paul was recalling these events here in 1 Thessalonians 3:1, where he and a
few others went on to the city of Athens, but his companions, Silas and Timothy,
did not stay with him.
Thessalonica and Berea, where Paul and the others had been, were cities far to
the north in the Roman Province of Macedonia. The ancient city of Athens
was to the south, in the area of Greece that the Romans called "Achaia."
Paul, in Athens, felt "alone" at that moment in time.
Verse 2. "and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's
fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to
your faith,"
When Paul arrived in Athens, he "sent for Silas and
Timothy to come to him with all speed" (Acts 17:15). He needed
those men, his beloved brothers-in-Christ, his critically important fellow-workers -
back to be with him once more, but he had sent them to Thessalonica. Paul "could endure it no longer" as he said in Verse One, and
so he had SENT the younger men to help them. Paul sacrificed his own need for
companionship and assistance, in order to help others.
Timothy would do for them what we are to do also - we are to "strengthen and encourage" one another in the power and
love of God. As the Lord leads, we are to "strengthen"
others even when it means loss to ourselves. And where do people need the most strength and encouragement?
In physical exercise? In discipline? No - Our greatest need is strong "faith" in the Lord, and that is why Timothy was sent - to
"strengthen and encourage" their "faith."
Verse 3. "so that no one would be disturbed by these
afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this."
The "afflictions" of this verse can also be called "tribulations." The
Lord said, "In this world you SHALL have tribulation" (John 16:33). When
the Lord called Paul to be an apostle, He showed him how much he would suffer
for the Name of the Lord (Acts 9:16). ALL the apostles and their
companions suffered persecution and experienced many afflictions. Note
though, that Jesus also said in John 16:33, "Be of good
cheer; I have overcome the world."
You might wonder if these "afflictions" will
apply to you and me? Here's Paul's
answer: "Through many tribulations, we must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts
14:22). God does not want us to suffer, but He will allow it to
enter our lives for a number of reasons. One of them is so that our need
for the Lord and our faith
in Him will grow. Unfortunately for many of us, we don't look to the
Lord and His strength unless we have to. But don't be "disturbed" by this - He has
a good plan and a good outcome in mind for you.
Verse 4. "For indeed when we were with you, we kept
telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came
to pass, as you know."
The gift of "prophecy" is named within a listing of the "gifts" of the Holy
Spirit, in 1 Corinthians 12:10, and you have to wonder - are such gifts
available for us today? The answer of Scripture is: yes, they are.
Paul said, "the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable," or as it says in
another translation, they are "without repentance" (Romans 12:29). In
other words, God has given much to the church and He will not take it away.
When Paul was with the Thessalonians, the Holy Spirit revealed to Him through
prophecy that he, his companions and the Thessalonians were going to "suffer
affliction." This was indeed a prophecy, a device in which God warns His people
and also encourages them. And the "affliction" did come to pass upon them,
just as it was said.
Verse 5. "For this reason, when I could endure it no
longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter
might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain."
Paul the Apostle was like an excited parent who just could not wait anymore
to hear news about his beloved children. What was HAPPENING with the
Thessalonians, he wondered? And so he sent Timothy, who was like a beloved
son to Paul, to find out about the spiritual condition of the Thessalonians.
Especially he wanted to know about their "faith."
He was concerned, as this verse says, that the enemy, the "tempter," might
have coerced them into turning away from the Lord, which would have made Paul's
ministry among them to be "in vain." We will see in the next verse, and
also in the Book of 2nd Thessalonians, that God heard Paul's concerned prayer
and answered him, just as He intends to answer YOUR prayer as well.
Lord, enable us to be like excited parents toward others in the church, hoping for the best and continually praying for them
to be strengthened and encouraged. Keep the
"tempter" away from our loved ones and give them the victory in Christ. In
Jesus Name. Amen.
Audio Bible Study - 1 Thess. 3:6-10
Verse 6. "But now that Timothy has come to us from you,
and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think
kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you,"
The incident in this verse is also likely the same one mentioned in Acts 18:5, where it says,
"Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia," imparting news about the faith and love
of the new converts who lived in Thessalonica, the chief city of Macedonia.
The phrase "good news" in this verse, is a form of the Greek word which is often
translated into English as the "gospel."
Notice that Paul, who looked at life through the "eyes" of the Holy Spirit,
was most interested in their "faith" in God, and
the "love" of God in them. And that is
precisely what is most important in your life and mine. Also note that
Paul was delighted to hear that the Thessalonians thought "kindly" of him, and were "longing"
to see him again. We need to openly care for each other and be encouraging in
the power and love of God. We are to be genuinely pleased when the good things
of God are seen in the lives of others.
Verse 7. "for this reason, brethren, in all our
distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith;"
Paul was in the city of Corinth at the time he wrote this letter to the
Thessalonians. The man had previously been presenting Jesus in local
synagogues in Thessalonica, far to the north, "solemnly
testifying to the Jews" in that place "that Jesus
was the Christ," the Messiah, the One they had awaited for many
centuries. The Jews in Thessalonica then resisted his message and Paul
left them, stating, "From now on, I shall go to the Gentiles" (Acts 18:4-6).
The strife Paul experienced in relation to that time gave rise to the "distress
and affliction" he spoke of in this verse. He loved his people, the
Jews, but he was distressed that so many of them refused the Lord who died for
us all. It was
during the time of his continuing "distress" that Paul received word about the Thessalonian
believers, both Jew and Gentile, and he was "comforted" by what he heard.
We are to be "comforted" by one another in the power of God.
Verse 8. "for now we really live, if you stand firm in
the Lord."
To Paul, when he led someone to the Lord, it was like he was a loving father
who brought yet another child into his family; into the Kingdom of God. He loved
his "children," and like an earthly parent, he was delighted when they did well.
When they exhibited "faith and love" (Verse 6), which is
the true evidence of God in us, then Paul felt fully ALIVE.
You may not understand your importance to others. Your faith in the
Lord, or the lack of it, has a powerful impact on those around you. If you
"stand firm in the Lord," others will be
made aware of your stand and they will be
encouraged to trust in Him, too. The Christian life is not just about you
or me. It's about those we serve, even when we don't see or understand our
importance to them.
Verse 9. "For what thanks can we render to God for you
in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account,"
Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, who are sending this letter, gave "thanks" to God for the Thessalonians who had come to
believe in Christ. "Thanks" in this verse is
a form of the Greek word, "eucharistia," which means "gratitude" or
"thankfulness." This is the kind of thankfulness that is the outflow of a
heart which is filled with love. Paul, Silvanus and Timothy truly loved
the people they served.
Because they were thankful and they honestly cared about what had happened to
the Thessalonians, they themselves were filled with "joy."
When the Holy Spirit leads you to care for someone and He fills their deepest
need through you, something surprising happens. YOU will "rejoice" as Paul and the others did. "Joy" is one of the "fruits" of the Spirit mentioned in
Galatians 5:22. When you remain in the will of God, as led by His Spirit, you
will find the "joy" of the Lord.
Verse 10. "as we night and day keep praying most
earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your
faith?"
Paul and his companions had started a work in the lives of the Thessalonian
people. They had come to the Lord and received Him deep into their hearts.
They were truly converted. But Paul's stay with the Thessalonians had
been cut short before the work was finished. There was more to do.
Many
had been saved, but now they needed to be taught. But as Paul reported, they
(the unbelieving Jews) "drove us out" (1
Thessalonians 2:15).
Notice that Paul, Timothy, Silvanus and others who were with them, did not
just get on a ship and sail back to Thessalonica. They "earnestly" prayed that God would let them return.
That is where most of us fail in responding to God. We might perform a
seemingly godly
work, but did we ask God BEFORE we acted? Paul's hesitation in returning
was not based in timidity by any means. It may have been that God had in mind OTHERS who would "complete" the work in
Thessalonica. Paul looked to the Lord.
Father, let us know the joy that comes from speaking to others and helping
them know about the Lord. And give us hearts that pray earnestly that
others may be helped. Bless those we serve. Let us walk in Your
will. In Jesus Name.
Amen.
Audio Bible Study - 1 Thess. 3:11-13
Verse 11. "Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus
our Lord direct our way to you;"
We are going to see, in 1 Thessalonians 5:16, that it is God's intention for
us to "pray without ceasing."
Whatever we are to do, whatever the need, we are to pray about it, and then
we reasonably are to praise the Lord when the answer comes. And so we see Paul, in Verses 11-13 of
this Chapter in 1st Thessalonians, praying heartily for the Thessalonians and
their needs. He also is prayerfully expressing to the Lord his love for them.
Note that Paul had a deep desire to return to the Thessalonian believers and
be with them once more. He correctly recognized their need and knew he
was someone who had the Godly tools to meet their need. He could have gone
down to the local seaport and paid the fare as he had done so often in the past,
and then sail immediately back to them. But instead he prayed,
understanding that even our honest desires are not sufficient - we need to be
LED by the Lord in all our decisions.
Verse 12. "and may the Lord cause you to increase and
abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;"
The Holy Spirit of God knew these verses would be read and responded to for
thousands of years, and the Spirit could have caused Paul to pray for anything, but He
chose this prayer: All of us are to "increase and abound
in love for one another." That we should have such love has been God's
intention from the beginning. As the Lord said to Israel, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus
19:18). What is in Leviticus is also in the words of Jesus - He said, you
are to "love one another, even as I have loved you"
(John 13:34).
And notice that your love is to be even for those who have done you wrong.
It is to extend to those who are not "cute" or lovely, or those who are merely pleasing to
you. As Paul said here in 1st Thessalonians, your love is to "abound" not just to those you like, but "for ALL people," which is to say - for everyone.
You are love to love all people you meet, including your "enemies"
- those who have done you harm (Matthew 5:44). It's impossible to do so except it
IS possible for God in us.
Verse 13. "so that He may establish your hearts without
blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with
all His saints."
God has a plan for each of our lives; He has a plan for you. There are
purposes unique to you and your life, and there are God-given abilities that are
for us all. One of the latter is that we are all to "love... one another"
(Verse 12). Another is here in this verse: We are to become "without blame in holiness." He intends for us all
to discover life lived in purity, holiness and love, "before our God and
Father."
This is the kind of purity, innocence and holiness in thought, word and
action, that is naturally seen only in small children. And that's
what Jesus said: we must be "converted and
become as little children," in order to "enter the
kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). But don't lose heart - all this
is to be done in God's strength, not in your own. Utilizing HIS strength is
what is part of what is meant by the word "faith"
(Verse 10).
Father, help us to pray in all that we do. Enable us to be people who
follow You, people who act in Your love and live in holiness before God.
In Jesus Name. Amen.
