I Thessalonians 3:1-13

I Thessalonians 3:1-13

I.                   I Thessalonians 3:1-5

a.       V. 1-2a

                                                              i.      Paul’s sending of Timothy is motivated by the things he mentioned at the end of the previous chapter

                                                            ii.      To be alone in Athens is much better  than not knowing the fate of the believers in Thessalonica

                                                          iii.      He is commending Timothy, possibly, because he intends for him to be the bearer of the letter, and this would be standard rhetorical form as a means of authenticating the letter.  They would have already been familiar with Timothy because of the visit he had just completed

                                                          iv.      Timothy is referred to as God’s co-worker.  This not only speaks to his status and authority, but also to the nature of ministry itself, as something in which we co-operate with God

b.      V. 2b-3a

                                                              i.      Paul sends Timothy to strengthen and encourage them, especially in light of the trials that they have faced, and would continue to face

c.       V. 3b-4

                                                              i.      Paul reminds them that he predicted their persecution, and that in fact persecution is a normal and expected part of Christian living

                                                            ii.      Cf. Mark 13.7-8; Philippians 1:16; II Timothy 2:11-13

                                                          iii.      Paul frequently used his letters to remind churches of, or reinforce the teaching he gave when he was with them in person

d.      V. 5

                                                              i.      Paul sees Satan, “the Tester”, at work not only in preventing his return, but also in the opposition the Thessalonians themselves are encountering

                                                            ii.      “The Tempter”- it’s possible that their temptation is not in the form of attacks, but in the enticement of defection, or a return to their former, easier life

II.                I Thessalonians 3:6-10

a.       V. 6

                                                              i.      “the good news”- the gospel is the story, or good news of what God has done, but it doesn’t end there

                                                            ii.      “Your faith and love”- Paul’s first concern is their faith, his second is his relationship with them

b.      V. 7

                                                              i.      Paul sent Timothy to encourage them, but in a way the roles were reversed as Timothy’s report upon returning encouraged Paul during a difficult time

c.       V. 8

                                                              i.      “For now we really live”, Paul seems to live and die with the success, or failure of the Thessalonian church

                                                            ii.      “If you continue to stand firm”- faith is developmental, rather than static

d.      V. 9

                                                              i.      This news of their faithfulness adds to Paul’s joy in God’s presence, leaving him wondering how he can repay God

e.       V. 10

                                                              i.      His prayer is that he may see them again, to supply what is “lacking”.  This is more a statement of the progression of faith, rather than a statement regarding any deficiency of their faith

f.       There is a concern for the faith of others elsewhere, so that the church is shown to be more than just a group of people in one geographical setting

III.             I Thessalonians 3:11-13

a.       V. 11

                                                              i.      “Lord” had become a synonym for God, and specifically for Yahweh to Jews of Paul’s day, so that to refer to Jesus as Lord, is to recognize his divine nature

                                                            ii.      “It is worthy of notice that this ascription to our Lord of a divine power in ordering the doings of men occurs in the earliest of St. Paul’s Epistles, and indeed probably the earliest of the New Testament writings: thus showing that there was no time, however early, so far as we are aware, when He was not so regarded.” – J. B. Lightfoot

                                                          iii.      Paul has no problem praying to God the Father and the Lord Jesus as one Rather than battling Satan directly, Paul turns to God’s help, specifically in the person of Jesus Christ

b.      V. 12

                                                              i.      Even when one loves, there is room for growth, just as earlier when they had faith, there is room for development of that faith

                                                            ii.      Paul sees the continued development of our capacity to love as a part of our faith and its growth

                                                          iii.      Cf. Galatians 6:10

c.       V. 13

                                                              i.      Cf. Zechariah 14:5

                                                            ii.      Cf. Mark 8:38