1 Thessalonians

Chapter 3

vs 1

Ok, I'm going to have to do a little scholarly work here to find out what time period we're talking about. But as I suspected, this one is quite easy. If you read Acts 17-18, you will see that Paul is separated from Silas and Timothy at Berea, and sent to Athens alone. He then goes to Corinth while Silas and Timothy go to Macedonia. At some point around this time, Timothy goes to Thessalonica too. That's what these verses are about, and so give us a good date of when the letter was written - most probably while Paul was in Corinth on his second missionary journey.

The continued use of 'we' is confusing here, because supposedly Silas and Timothy are not with Paul in Athens. It could be possible some of the brothers of Berea stayed with him - who knows.

vs 2

In Acts we are told that Paul sent messages to Silas and Timothy to get back to him as soon as possible - they could have said "as soon as possible, after you've visited the Thessalonians again" for all we know.

They had not had PS&T with them long, and so Paul obviously felt that they needed some further encouragement. This letter, written after Timothy's report, must then be full of the glowing reports that Timothy brought back with him.

vs 3

PS&T were worried that the trials they were suffering might upset the Thessalonians! And yet, these persecutions were meant to happen, and this was shared with Thessalonian church.

vs 4

The kind of prophecy you don't want to make, and don't want to become true. But PS&T had been around - they knew what their work would bring.

vs 5

So Timothy wasn't merely sent for their encouragement - he was also sent because of worry that the church had closed and the believers had lapsed.

vs 6

But the news is good! Notice that it's not just church news (about faith and love) but it's also news about relationships (pleasant memories, longings to see each other). PS&T were obviously more than itinerant preachers to these people - they were close friends.

vs 7

So PS&T can be joyful because of the encouragement that the church at Thessalonica is to them, despite the sufferings they go through.

vs 8

"We live if you stand" is how the greek reads (not that the NIV translation isn't good - I think it is). That's a great picture of partnership, and of the relationship that exists.

vs 9

This news makes PS&T so joyful that they not only recognise God's work in it, but specifically God's work for their own encouragement and joy! That's a lot of joy methinks.

vs 10

Throughout all this, though, PS&T still seek to return, because Thessalonica is a young church, and is still lacking. They haven't had a year of teaching like Corinth had (and yet they are still such an encouragement! Compare that to Corinth!).

vs 11

Here is their prayer that they can go back to Thessalonica.

vs 12

PS&T never said that they were a loveless people - this is not a corrective. If you've ever thought "What can I pray for someone who's a great, encouraging Christian?" pray this.

vs 13

And this too.