1 Thessalonians 3
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CHAPTER 3
Timothy’s Strengthening of the Church (3:1-13)
1 From Thessalonica, Paul had been taken to the city of Berea. From there, he journeyed to Athens, the capital of Greece (Acts 17:13-15).
Paul cared deeply about the new believers in Thessalonica. Paul had been forced to leave them so quickly. They were only infants in Christ; already persecution had come upon them, and Paul couldn’t be there to help them. Paul was filled with worry about whether they were standing firm in the faith or not.
2 Therefore, Paul sent Timothy to strengthen and encourage them.
3-4 The Thessalonians knew that trials must come; Paul had warned them it would be so. And trials did come. So let the Thessalonians not be surprised or discouraged. We have been destined to endure trials; indeed, such trials are for our good (see Romans 5:3; James 1:2-3; 1 Peter 3:12-13). Those who suffer for Christ on earth will share in His glory in heaven (Matthew 10:22; Acts 14:22; Romans 8:17-18; 2 Timothy 2:12).
Therefore, let us rejoice in our suffering for Christ, for great will be our reward in heaven (Matthew 5:10-12; John 16:33).
5 The tempter Paul mentions here is Satan (Matthew 4:3,10). Satan tries to tempt believers to leave their faith. Satan is always working. He especially attacks new believers, those who have only recently escaped from his kingdom and whose faith is still weak.
Satan works by leading believers into TEMPTATION (Matthew 6:13). Temptations are of many kinds. For example, a new believer may be pressured into performing some ritual connected with his former religion. He may fear he’ll lose his family inheritance if he refuses. Thus he is tempted to turn back and worship his old gods. But he must resist such a temptation. It’s much better to lose our earthly inheritance than to risk losing our heavenly inheritance.
There are other temptations for new believers, such as fear of imprisonment, fear of losing a job, fear of ridicule from one’s friends. All of these temptations come from Satan. Yet God, according to His eternal purposes, allows these temptations to come upon us in order to strengthen our faith.
There are, of course, many other temptations: doubt, fear, sickness, etc. Satan uses different methods to try to destroy our faith and block Christ’s work (see Matthew 13:39; Mark4:15; Luke 22:3; 1 Corinthians 7:5; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 12:7; 2 Thessalonians 2:9).
Yet this great enemy Satan has already been defeated by Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:15). And in Christ’s strength, we too, taking the shield of faith, can defeat Satan (Ephesians 6:16).
6-7 The main goal of a true pastor or preacher is to lead people to Christ and then help them grow in faith and in love. A pastor or preacher is like a parent to new believers (Galatians 4:19; 1 Thessalonians 2:8,11). This is why Paul was so overjoyed to hear good news about his spiritual children in Thessalonica.
Notice that Timothy brought good news concerning the Thessalonians’ faith and love (verse 6). Faith and love are the two most necessary and important things in our lives. If we had to describe the Christian life in just two words, we could do it by choosing the words faith and love (see Galatians 5:6 and comment).
8 For now we really live. On the one hand, Paul said: For to me, to live is Christ (Philippians 1:21). On the other hand, Paul “lives” in his spiritual children. If they remain strong in the Lord, that will be like “life” to Paul.
9-10 Paul desired to visit the Thessalonians again in order to supply what was lacking in their faith (see Romans 1:11). These new believers needed more spiritual wisdom; they needed solid food (see Hebrews 5:13-14; 6:1). They needed to go on to maturity in Christ (Ephesians 4:12-13).
11 Paul here calls God our God and Father. Christians are entitled to call God “our Father.” God is the Creator of all men, but He is not the Father of all men. He is the Father only of those who are adopted into His family through faith in Christ (Romans 8:15-16; Galatians 4:6-7).
Paul prays that God will clear the way for him to come to Thessalonica. Paul didn’t travel here and there according to his own desire and plan. Paul went only where God had “cleared the way”; he went only according to God’s guidance.
12 Paul prays that God might make the Thessalonians’ love increase. We Christians must always be increasing in spiritual qualities; we must always be growing. We cannot remain in the same condition. We must either grow or die. And as our love grows, it must grow not only for each other but also for everyone else.
13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy. To strengthen one’s heart means to strengthen one’s faith (see 1 Corinthians 1:8). Our goal is to be blameless and holy; God will not be satisfied with anything less (see Matthew 5:8,48; Ephesians 1:4 and comments). To be holy means to be “set apart” for God. This is why, in the New Testament, Christians are often called “saints,” or “holy ones.”
Angels also are called holy ones in the New Testament. When our Lord Jesus comes to earth again, the angels will be with him (Mark 8:38; 2 Thessalonians 1:7). Jesus will come to judge all men (John 5:22; 2 Timothy 4:1). Therefore, let us go on striving in Jesus’ strength to be blameless and holy, remembering this, that one day we will all have to stand before His judgment seat (Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 John 2:28)