Bible Commentaries
1 Thessalonians 3

Verses 1-13

1 Thessalonians 3:1-13 . The Mission of Timothy to Thessalonica.— Paul’ s distress and anxiety with regard to the fate of the Church led him to send Timothy upon a mission of inquiry. He describes the effect produced upon him by Timothy’ s reassuring report.

1 Thessalonians 3:2 . sent Timothy: in * Acts 17:14 f; Acts 18:5, Silas and Timothy left Paul at Berœ a on the sea-coast and did not rejoin him till after his arrival at Corinth. It is possible, however, that Timothy followed him to Athens and was subsequently despatched to Thessalonica.— to establish: the object of Timothy’ s mission was: ( a) to consolidate the Church, ( b) to comfort the Christians in the face of persecution.

1 Thessalonians 3:3 . we were appointed: i.e. to tribulation ( cf. Acts 14:22).

1 Thessalonians 3:5 . the tempter: Satan.

1 Thessalonians 3:7 . in all our distress refers to the difficulties and disappointments connected with the European mission ( cf. 1 Corinthians 2:3).

1 Thessalonians 3:8 . now we live: the reassuring tidings brought new life to Paul. We learn from Acts 18 and 1 Corinthians 2:3 that he had arrived at Corinth in a very depressed condition, but the return of Timothy restored his flagging courage and made him throw himself into his work with new zest.

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 . Paul’ s prayer for the Thessalonians contains three petitions: ( a) that the apostle may be enabled to return, ( b) that the Thessalonians themselves may be “ established in holiness,” ( c) that the Church may increase and abound.

1 Thessalonians 3:11 . Note the linking of the “ Lord Jesus” with God in this verse (pp. 807 f.).

1 Thessalonians 3:12 . increase and abound: Thessalonica is described as a “ model Church” in 1 Thessalonians 1:7, yet there are further possibilities before it, and Paul gives it, as a motto for the future, the injunction “ increase and abound” ; cf. also 1 Thessalonians 4:1 and 1 Thessalonians 4:10.

1 Thessalonians 3:13 . with all his saints: at the Parousia Christ is to be accompanied by all His saints, i.e. those who have fallen asleep in Christ ( cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:14).