An Encouraging Visit
We have now reached chapter three in the book of 1 Thessalonians. As we have discussed before, Paul is writting this letter to help encourage believers to remain steadfast in the faith. This is the crux of chapter three.
“Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 4 For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. 5 For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain. 6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you— 7 therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. 8 For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, 10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith? 11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, 13 so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.”
1 Thessalonians 3
The beginning of this chapter starts out connected to the ending of chapter two. In chapter two, Paul states that the church in Thessalonica is his glory and joy. Not for any specific thing that they are doing themselves, but in their faith in Jesus Christ. In chapter three, we see Paul continuing with this train of thought. Where chapter two was to encourage the believers to remember who they were serving, chapter three is to inform the believers that Paul, Silvanus and Timothy are pleased to see how strong their faith. Verse six ends with Paul identifing that through Timothy’s account of the church’s actions, that they are remaining steadfast in the faith.
However, it is verses seven and eight that I would identify as the key verses in this chapter. “7 therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. 8 For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.” Paul was worried that this church had been overrun by false teachings, he is recognizing that they are spiritually young believers and was concerned that without Paul there to guide them, they would fall away. Yet, thanks to Timothy’s report, we know that this is not the case. In fact, Paul and Silvanus find comfort and joy in their imprisonment knowing that the church was holding to the faith. This is why it is important to day for discipleship. Its one thing to lead a person to Jesus Christ, but without guidance that person can be swept away into false teachings. This is why we as believers need to be in a community with one another and why we need to be encouraging spiritually young believers to continue to grow in their faith. This is why in verse ten, Paul is saying that they are praying earnestly to be with the believers in Thessalonica.
Verses 11-13 I find very interesting. In verse eleven, we see that Paul is implorying that God Himself direct Paul and his compainions way to the church, but not only that, but Paul is imploring that God cause the believers to, “increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,”. This passage is a calling for the born again Christian. Paul is stating that we need to increase in our love to fellow Christians and to the nonbelievers, just as they did. But what exactly was it that Paul did? He preached the gospel. Our Christian calling is to increase in our love for fellow man by sharing the gospel to them, to encourage them to stand strong in the faith and to encourage others to follow after Jesus Christ.
Verse 13 has a two-fold explanation. The first is the Christian reward. Paul is encouraging the reader to increase in their love so that God will establish their hearts blameless before God. The second explanation is a continuation of 1 Thessalonians 1:10. If you remember, we identified that 1 Thessalonians 1:10 is speaking of the pre-trib rapture. 1 Thessalonians 3:13 is now speaking of the second coming of Jesus Christ with the saints. Our reward of sharing the Gospel and living to serve God, is that we will be found blameless before God. Not by our own actions, but by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Chapter three is a great opportunity for believers to reflect on what their attitude is. Are we living for Christ by only absorbing the knowledge? Are we seeking to lead others to Him? Are we living in such a way that those around us find joy in our faith? These are things that we as individuals need to reflect on and ask God to direct us to those that He would have us speak too.
Seek the truth and encourage one another,
Alex