Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 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, that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.

a. In the previous chapter, Paul explained how much he wanted to be with the Thessalonians during their time of trial (1 Thessalonians 2:17-18).

b. Sent Timothy . . . to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith: Paul could not be with the Thessalonians himself, but he did the next best thing. He sent his trusted companion and fellow worker Timothy to them.

i. We thought it good to be left in Athens alone: For the sake of the Thessalonians, Paul was willing to be left in Athens alone. It cost him something to send Timothy to the Thessalonians, and he thought it was good to pay that cost.

c. To establish and encourage you concerning your faith: Paul wanted Timothy to do two things, to establish and encourage the Thessalonians. Both are necessary, but establishing comes first. Encouragement can really only come after we are established in the right direction, otherwise, we are only encouraged in the wrong course.

d. That no one should be shaken by these afflictions: As the Thessalonians were established and encouraged, they would not be shaken by these afflictions. Timothy's ministry would help them to endure their present hardship.

i. Without a good grasp of the truth concerning the place of suffering in the life of the believer, we are in great danger of being shaken in our faith.

e. These afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this: The Thessalonians should know that the time of present suffering was in God's control. These were afflictions they were appointed to. As Christians, we have an "appointment with affliction."

i. Some believe that Christians shouldn't suffer affliction, that God wants to teach us only by His word, and not through trial or tribulation. It is true that there is a great deal of suffering we could be spared by simply obeying God's Word, and God wants to spare us that suffering. Nevertheless, suffering was good enough to teach Jesus (Hebrews 2:10, 5:8), so it is good enough to teach us (unless we have gone beyond Jesus). God does teach the believer perseverance, obedience, how to comfort others, and deeper fellowship with Jesus in trials.

ii. Some believe that the only affliction Christians should experience is persecution. The truth is that there are two Greek words used to translate the concept of suffering, and neither of them is used exclusively in regard to persecution. Thilipsis is used for such things as physical pain, emotional hardships, and suffering under temptation. Pasko is used for such things as physical sufferings unrelated to persecution, suffering under temptation, and hardships in a general sense.

iii. Some believe that affliction means God is mad at me. The truth is that affliction means that God loves us enough to give the best when we may only desire the easy. The symbol of Christianity is the cross, not a feather bed. Affliction is just part of following Jesus.

For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.

a. We told you before when we were with you: When Paul was with the Thessalonians (just a few months before writing this letter), he warned them they would suffer tribulation.

b. In Jesus' parable of the soils (Matthew 13:1-23), He described the way that some fall away when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word. Jesus said when tribulation arises, not if. Your faith will be tested. Paul knew this, and as a good pastor, he warned the Thessalonians.

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.

a. When I could no longer endure it: Paul could barely endure the thought that the faith of the Thessalonians might crumble under this season of affliction, so he sent Timothy to both check on them and to help them.

b. Lest by some means the tempter had tempted you: Paul recognized that the tempter - that is, Satan - wanted to exploit this season of suffering. As in the case of Job, Satan wanted to tempt the Thessalonians give up on God.

c. And our labor might be in vain: If the Thessalonians did waver in their faith, Paul would consider his work among them to have been in vain. In the parable of the soils (Matthew 13:1-23), Jesus described the seed that withered under the heat of trials. If the Thessalonians withered, Paul's hard work as a farmer among them would have born no harvest.

d. What did Paul do to prevent the Thessalonians from falling under their affliction? He sent Timothy to them, because those who are in affliction need the help of other godly people.

B. Timothy's encouraging report.

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;

a. Brought us good news of your faith and love: When Timothy returned from his visit to the Thessalonians, he brought good news. The Thessalonians were doing well in faith and love, and Paul helps them to do better with this letter he wrote.

b. That you always have good remembrance of us: It was also good news from Timothy because they hadn't believed vicious and false rumors about Paul.

Therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God,

a. In all our affliction and distress we were comforted: Since Timothy came back with good news, Paul has a renewed strength and freshness of life (for now we live). It made Paul feel much better that the Thessalonians were doing well! Paul didn't have many burdens for himself, but he had many burdens for others.

b. For what thanks can we render to God for you: Paul's thanks and joy overflowed because he knew that they did stand fast in the Lord. Some find it easy to rejoice in the material prosperity in the life of others, but what about their spiritual prosperity?

Night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?

a. Night and day praying exceedingly: Paul heard good news from Timothy, but it wasn't enough. He wanted to see the face of the church family in Thessalonica. Paul wanted it enough to pray night and day . . . exceedingly.

b. And perfect what is lacking in your faith: In the midst of all this joy, Paul calls attention to the fact that they are still lacking. Though the apostle repeatedly compliments them (1 Thessalonians 1:3, 1:7, 2:13, 2:19-20, and 3:6), he is concerned to perfect (complete) what is lacking in your faith. Those who have come a long way still have a long way to go.

C. Paul's prayer for what is lacking in the Thessalonians.

Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.

a. Now may our God and Father Himself: This shows Paul begins a passage of "written prayer." He will tell the Thessalonians what he prays for them.

b. Direct our way to you: If the Thessalonians were doing well, why did Paul pray that God would direct his way to the Thessalonians? Why did he need to be there? Timothy and the other teachers were good, but they needed the authoritative instruction and encouragement only the apostles could give.

i. This being true, how can we receive such apostolic influence? Paul and the rest have graduated to glory, but their writings remain. God saw fit to preserve the apostle's teaching through the New Testament.

ii. The church is founded upon the apostles, with Christ Himself the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). The foundation of the New Jerusalem is the twelve apostles (Revelation 21:14). There was something significantly unique about the first-century apostles and prophets, and that unique ministry is preserved in the New Testament.

And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,

a. And may the Lord make you increase and about in love: This was not a loveless church, but they had room to grown in love, because love is an essential mark of the Christian faith.

i. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:35). If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? (1 John 4:20)

b. Abound in love to one another and to all: Paul looked for them to love one another and to all. This love begins in the family of God, but it must go beyond. If you only love those who love you, what good is that (Matthew 5:46-47)?

c. Just as we do to you: Paul daringly sets himself as a standard of love to be emulated. How many would say the same thing today?

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.

a. So that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness: The idea behind holiness is to be set apart from the world and unto God. The genuinely holy person marches to God's drumbeat, and not to their own, or to the beat of popular opinion.

b. Your hearts blameless in holiness: It is our hearts that must be made holy first. The devil wants us to develop a holy exterior while neglecting the interior, like whitewashed tombs, full of death (Matthew 23:27).

c. Blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Paul reminds of Jesus' return, because nothing can encourage us to holiness like remembering that Jesus might come today.