1 Thessalonians Chapter 3 (Pdf) Download

1 Thessalonians Chapter 3

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

As chapter 3 begins, we find Paul in the midst of being in Corinth, apart from the Thessalonian church. Remember that he & Silas had been forced to leave Thessalonica just 3 weeks after beginning to plant the church there

- They were forced to flee because of a rioting mob, led by local Jewish leaders upset at the acceptance of the Savior by so many in the city o That night, the believers spirited Paul & Silas out of the city (See Acts 17:5-10) o Paul regarded the forced separation as like a parent being forced to leave a child ▪ 2:17—…when we were orphaned by being separated from you… o He added in 2:18 that Satan had blocked his return to them ▪ He is referring to the continuing opposition to him in Thessalonica • The rioting had followed Paul to Berea o He was forced to leave there, too, arriving 1st in Athens & then continuing to Ephesus & finally to Corinth, where he was living when he wrote the letters to the Thessalonians Studies in the Book of 1 Thessalonians P a g e | 2 © Copyright 2018 Joel B. Curry

▪ But before leaving Athens, Paul had sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to help the church o As chapter 3 begins, we find Paul restless because he had not been able to return yet to Thessalonica & had not heard any news from the church there

VV. 1-4—

- V. 1— o “Paul was worried about (the Thessalonian) church because (1) it was born in persecution (cf. 1 Thess. 2:17-20) and (2) he (and Silas) had to leave so soon,”1 without having had enough time to teach for very long o Paul very much wanted to return to the church, but decided, probably on the advice of his companions, to remain in Athens, where he preached for a short time before continuing to Ephesus & Corinth ▪ He did not want his presence back in Thessalonica to stir up rioting again & make the persecution the church was facing worse - V. 2— o So instead of returning himself, he sent Timothy back to Thessalonica from Athens to shepherd the new church…to strengthen and encourage you in your faith…

o He calls Timothy …our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ… ▪ Reminding the Thessalonians that Timothy was 1 of God’s co-laborers was the highest commendation he could give to Timothy • Paul wanted to make sure that they knew that the leadership Timothy brought was every bit as Godly & true as the ministry of Paul himself - Vv. 3-4— o The biggest concern of Paul and his team was the impact the continuing opposition and persecution would have on the faith and determination of the new Christians in Thessalonica o He was worried because “Often new believers, and even older believers, interpret difficulty as a sign that they need to change something. (When he returned to the church) Timothy reminded them that persecution is a normal experience for the Christian (cf. Matthew 5:11- 12;Matthew 10:16-28; Matthew 20:22- 23; Matthew 24:9-10; et al.), just as Paul had previously instructed them.”2 ▪ Satan is the author of persecution and opposition to the faith, especially to cause new or immature Christians to doubt their decision to make Christ the Lord of their lives • And in fact, in the early centuries of the church, there are many who turned away from the faith because of the

persecution & because of pressure from unsaved family ▪ In the case of the Thessalonian Christians, virtually the entire community, with the approval of local government, threatened & persecuted them ▪ Paul reminds them “…that he had continually warned the Thessalonians that tribulation was the Christian’s lot. And now they knew it for themselves”…because it was already happening.3 • Just as he himself was persecuted throughout the areas in which he preached ▪ Opposition and persecution of Christians continues to take place today & in some areas of the world it is even more violent than the persecution the 1st century Christians faced ▪ In the West, opposition to faithful Christians usually takes the form of social rejection, ridicule, & resentment • Regardless of the severity of its acts of persecution, secular society everywhere wants everyone to conform to its norms & moral values

Vv. 5-10—

- V. 5—

o Paul explains that it was because of these concerns that he sent Timothy back not just to check on them, but also to help them ▪ Paul wanted to know that, being so young in the faith, had they abandoned it because of the cultural pressure ▪ Had they left the faith, Paul points out that his efforts would have been in vain • (“The change to the subjunctive (…that our labors might have been in vain…) indicates that this was…not something believed. It had been a possibility that (his) labor might have been in vain, but Paul had hoped for better things…)4 o However, he had enough doubt that he was anxious to receive Timothy’s report, because Satan “…is a tempter in the sense of trying/testing for the purpose of causing failure (cf. Matthew 4:3; 1 Corinthians 7:5; James 1:12-18).”5 - V. 6— o “Timothy had…rejoined Paul in Corinth (v. 16; cf. Acts 18:1). He brought good news that the Thessalonians were holding up well against the…persecution…They continued to trust in God and to love others as well as to remember Paul fondly and to desire to see him again (cf. Philemon 1:5). This news comforted Paul who felt distress because of his concern for all

4 Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/pet/1-thessalonians- 3.html 5 MacArthur Study Bible, NIV, 1851 Studies in the Book of 1 Thessalonians P a g e | 6 © Copyright 2018 Joel B. Curry

the churches…”6 but especially for the young church in Thessalonica - V. 7— o Paul continued to face opposition himself while in Corinth, as we discussed in our series in the books of 1 & 2 Corinthians7 ▪ Knowing of the Thessalonians’ persistence in their faithfulness was a great encouragement to Paul as he himself faced opposition at the time he wrote this letter • Literally …we were comforted… - V. 8— o For now we really live… “Paul is using metaphorical language to express his release from tension because of the good news about this church”8 that they continue to stand firm in the face of opposition to their faith o …since you are standing firm… ▪ Paul sometimes uses military terms in his letters & this is one of those times • …standing firm…is the picture of an army that refuses to retreat in the face of the enemy’s assault9 - V. 9— o How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?

6 Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dcc/1-thessalonians- 3.html 7 We find examples of his troubles in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 4:9-13; 2 Corinthians 4:7-12; 6:4-10 and 11:23-28 8 http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/new_testament_studies/VOL07/VOL07B_03.html 9 Paul frequently uses this phrase in reference to believers’ faithfulness in the face of opposition (1 Corinthians 16:13; Galatians 5:1; Ephesians 6:11, 13-14; Philippians 1:27; 4:1, 2 Thessalonians 2:15) Studies in the Book of 1 Thessalonians P a g e | 7 © Copyright 2018 Joel B. Curry

▪ Similar sentiments that John expresses in 3 John 4: I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. - V. 10— o Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. ▪ “The apostle and his companions kept praying…that God would give them the opportunity to return to Thessalonica. They desired to return so they could minister to the continuing needs of their spiritual children. These Christians were doing well, but they needed to grow more. They were only baby Christians at this time. They lacked maturity.”10 ▪ The prayers of Paul & his companions were constant & persistent • In chapter 5, he urges the same type of prayer life for the Thessalonians…pray continually…(KJV: pray without ceasing) • This is a lifestyle we can have, to—to be constantly aware of God’s presence & know Him as our constant companion o All that we are must be of God

Vv. 11-13—

- Paul concludes this section of his letter with a prayer on behalf of the Thessalonians

- V. 11— o That God would enable him to visit - V. 12— o That their love for each other and for everyone, including the lost, may continue to grow ▪ “They had already love to each other, so as to unite them in one Christian body; and he prays that they may have an increase and an abundance of it; that they might feel the same love to each other which he felt for them all.”11 - V. 13— o “…holy ones are either (1) angels who will accompany Jesus (cf. Deut. 33:2-3; Zech. 14:5; Matt. 16:27; 25:31; Mark 8:38; 2 Thess. 1:7; Rev. 19:4); or (2) His people, saints (cf. 1 Thess. 4:14- 16). Paul never called angels ‘saints’ or ‘holy ones’…both angels and saints will…(be)…with Him on the clouds of heaven,”12 but it is commonly used for believers ▪ Remember, “This church was unsure if the dead saints would participate in the end- time events. Saints, literally "holy ones," are called to holiness (cf. 1 Thess. 4:3) by the Holy One (cf. 1 Pet. 1:15)! The goal of Christianity is "holiness" now (cf. Eph. 1:4), not heaven when we die!13 ▪ This is a very important point for us • Heaven is our hope, not our goal

11 Adam Clarke Commentary, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/acc/1-thessalonians-3.html 12 http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/new_testament_studies/VOL07/VOL07B_03.html 13 http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/new_testament_studies/VOL07/VOL07B_03.html Studies in the Book of 1 Thessalonians P a g e | 9 © Copyright 2018 Joel B. Curry

o Heaven is promised to us & is no longer a goal, but something that is already secured • Holiness here & now, on the other hand, is to be our goal…that we will be like Christ