Reflections on 1 Thessalonians 3

1 Thessalonians 03 (Contemporary English Version)


1. Finally, we couldn't stand it any longer. We decided to stay in Athens by ourselves
2. and send our friend Timothy to you. He works with us as God's servant and preaches the good news about Christ. We wanted him to make you strong in your faith and to encourage you.
3. We didn't want any of you to be discouraged by all these troubles. You knew we would have to suffer,
4. because when we were with you, we told you this would happen. And we did suffer, as you well know.
5. At last, when I could not wait any longer, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith. I hoped that Satan had not tempted you and made all our work useless.
6. Timothy has come back from his visit with you and has told us about your faith and love. He also said that you always have happy memories of us and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you.
7. My friends, even though we have a lot of trouble and suffering, your faith makes us feel better about you.
8. Your strong faith in the Lord is like a breath of new life.
9. How can we possibly thank God enough for all the happiness you have brought us?
10. Day and night we sincerely pray that we will see you again and help you to have an even stronger faith.
11. We pray that God our Father and our Lord Jesus will let us visit you.
12. May the Lord make your love for each other and for everyone else grow by leaps and bounds. That's how our love for you has grown.
13. And when our Lord comes with all of his people, I pray that he will make your hearts pure and innocent in the sight of God the Father.
    
    

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    In chapter two Paul told the Thessalonian Christians that they were his "crown of boasting in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming." (2:19) In this chapter he tells them "How can we thank God for you in return for all the joy we experience because of you?" (3:9) He has only good to say about them. His primary concern for them is their immaturity in the face of persecution. They had not strayed from the faith, but he was concerned that they could due to the persecution.
    
    In light of Paul's concern, he reminded them that as Christians they "are appointed to this," that is, to persecution. (3:3) In fact, when Paul was with them previously he told them persecution would come, and it did. Too frequently the perception is that our faith in Christ should deliver us from trouble. So, when trouble comes some are shaken in their faith wondering if they are doing something wrong or if their faith is well-founded.
    
    Another step Paul took in light of his concern for the Thessalonians was to send Timothy to them "to strengthen and encourage (them) concerning (their) faith." Paul was elated when Timothy returned from his visit with the Thessalonians bringing "good news about (their) faith and love." (3:6) He was also pleased that they had good memories of him and wanted to see him.
    
    A third step Paul took due to his concern for the Thessalonians was to pray for them. He prayed "earnestly night and day" for them that "what is lacking in (their) faith" might be made complete. (4:10) The chapter closes with a prayer that Paul's way might be directed to them, that the Lord might cause them to "increase and overflow with love for one another," and that the Lord might "make your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints." (3:11, 12, 13)