1 Thessalonians 3 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

1 Thessalonians 3

3:1 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker¹ in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. 5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you—7 for this reason, brothers,² in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. 8 For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Footnotes

[1] 3:2 Some manuscripts servant
[2] 3:7 Or brothers and sisters

Commentary

v1: Having heard news from Thessalonica, Paul felt compelled to write to them, and to send Timothy to encourage them. See also Phil 2.19-23; this is a sign of Paul's deep love for them.

v2: Timothy, the faithful servant, was sent for two purposes;

to establish them, in objective truth, with doctrinal teaching;
to encourage them, with subjective experience, with devotional teaching.

Both are necessary, to enable us to live a balanced Christian life, in true knowledge of Christ.

v3: We need strength from God, that we might cope with our afflictions and trials. Since we are appointed to such things, we must not be shaken by them. In Heb 12.26-27, the things which are shaken are removed, so that what cannot be shaken can remain; our faith, being much more precious than gold, is tried in the fire of affliction, and is made stronger.

v4: Paul had always taught them that afflictions were to be expected. They should not have been surprised by what they experienced.

v5: The tempter might use difficult times to bring us down, making us depressed and defeated. Paul was concerned about this, and sent Timothy. He did not expect them to be defeated, but that did not lessen his concern. David Devenish comments; 'it is a clear recognition of the reality of the struggle we face in seeing new converts established in the faith. (Demolishing Strongholds)

v6-7: Timothy had already visited Thessalonica, and had brought good news of their faith and love, as in 1.3. He reported the good relationship that existed between them and Paul. The news from Thessalonica brought encouragement to Paul.

v8-9: Such was Paul's love and concern for them, that his life was worth living because they were faithful. Their progress became his blessing. Godo news was a refreshment to him, Prov 25.25. Paul speaks of prayer as his being “in the presence of our God.”

v10: Paul's desire to see them, and to deal with those things that were lacking. There were issues, dealt with in chapters 4 and 5, where some misunderstanding existed. Our humility is to accept that there are things lacking in our faith; and we must seek to grow in grace.

v11-13: Paul's prayer for them, that they might grow in love and holiness. These two areas are addressed in chapter 4. The coming of the Lord Jesus is a clear motivating factor.