1
Thessalonians 3
New Living Translation
(NLT)
3
Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens,
2 and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker[a] in
proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to
encourage you in your faith, 3 and to keep you from being shaken by the
troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such
troubles. 4 Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon
come—and they did, as you well know. 5 That is why, when I could bear it no
longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was
afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been
useless.
6
But now Timothy has just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and
love. He reports that you always remember our visit with joy and that you want
to see us as much as we want to see you. 7 So we have been greatly encouraged
in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters,[b]
because you have remained strong in your faith. 8 It gives us new life to know
that you are standing firm in the Lord.
9
How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s
presence. 10 Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see
you again to fill the gaps in your faith.
11
May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. 12 And may the
Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just
as our love for you overflows. 13 May he, as a result, make your hearts strong,
blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus
comes again with all his holy people. Amen.
Footnotes:
3:2
Other manuscripts read and God’s servant; still others read and a co-worker, or
and a servant and co-worker for God, or and God’s servant and our co-worker.
3:7
Greek brothers.
Matthew
Henry's Commentary
Verses
6-10
Here
we have Paul’s great satisfaction upon the return of Timothy with good tidings
from the Thessalonians, in which we may observe,
I.
The good report Timothy made concerning them, 1 Thess. 3:6. Without question,
he was a willing messenger of these good tidings. Concerning their faith, that
is, concerning their steadfastness in the faith, that they were not shaken in
mind, nor turned aside form the profession of the gospel. Their love also
continued; their love to the gospel, and the ministers of the gospel. For they
had a good and a kind remembrance of the apostles, and that constantly, or
always. The names of the apostles were very dear to them, and the thoughts of
them, and what they themselves had received from them, were very precious,
insomuch that they desired greatly to see them again, and receive some
spiritual gift from them; and there was no love lost, for the apostle was as desirous
to see them. It is happy where there is such mutual love between minister and
people. This tends to promote religion, and the success of the gospel. The
world hates them, and therefore they should love one another.
II.
The great comfort and satisfaction the apostle had in this good report
concerning them (1 Thess. 3:7, 8): Therefore, brethren, we were comforted in
all our affliction and distress. The apostle thought this good news of them was
sufficient to balance all the troubles he met with. It was easy to him to bear
affliction, or persecution, or fightings from without, when he found the good
success of his ministry and the constancy of the converts he had made to
Christianity; and his distress of mind on account of his fears within, lest he
had laboured in vain, was now in a good measure over, when he understood their
faith and the perseverance of it. This put new life and spirit into the apostle
and made him vigorous and active in the work of the Lord. Thus he was not only
comforted, but greatly rejoiced also: Now we live, if you stand fast in the
Lord, 1 Thess. 3:8. It would have been a killing thing to the apostles if the
professors of religion had been unsteady, or proved apostates; whereas nothing
was more encouraging than their constancy.
III.
The effects of this were thankfulness and prayer to God on their behalf.
Observe, 1. How thankful the apostle was, 1 Thess. 3:9. He was full of joy, and
full of praise and thanksgiving. When we are most cheerful we should be most
thankful. What we rejoice in we should give thanks for. This is to rejoice
before our God, to spiritualize our joy. Paul speaks as if he could not tell
how to express his thankfulness to God, or his joy and rejoicing for their
sakes. But he was careful God should not lose the glory of the comfort he
received in the welfare of his friends. His heart was enlarged with love to
them and with thanksgiving to God. He was willing to express the one and the
other as well as he could. As to thankfulness to God, this especially is very imperfect
in the present state; but, when we come to heaven, we shall do this work better
than now we can. 2. He prayed for them night and day (1 Thess. 3:10), evening
and morning, or very frequently, in the midst of the business of the day or
slumber of the night lifting up his heart to God in prayer. Thus we should pray
always. And Paul’s prayer was fervent prayer. He prayed exceedingly, and was
earnest in his supplication. Note, When we are most thankful we should always
give ourselves to prayer; and those we give thanks for have yet need to be
prayed for. Those whom we most rejoice in, and who are our greatest comforts,
must be our constant care, while in this world of temptation and imperfection.
There was something still lacking in their faith; Paul desired that this might
be perfected, and to see their face in order thereunto. Note, (1.) The best of
men have something wanting in their faith, if not as to the matter of it, there
being some mysteries or doctrines not sufficiently known or believed by them,
yet as to the clearness and certainty of their faith, there being some
remaining darkness and doubtings, or at least as to the effects and operations
of it, these being not so conspicuous and perfect as they should be. And, (2.)
The ministry of the word and ordinances is helpful, and to be desired and used
for the perfecting of that which is lacking in our faith.
The Bible
Panorama
1
Thessalonians 3
V
1–5: TRIBULATION The Thessalonians have gone through tribulation and
afflictions. Paul sent Timothy to them to encourage them, edify them, and let
them know that such trials are normal for the Christian church. Paul is
concerned that Satan may tempt them to compromise or abandon their faith
because of their tribulations.
V
6–8: TIMOTHY Timothy returned to Paul with good news of their progress,
especially in faith and love. They remember Paul, and want to see him and his
fellow workers. Paul is also going through afflictions, and this news comforts
him. He lives for the joy of seeing his converts stand and glorify Christ.
V 9–11: THANKS He describes the joy and
rejoicing which lead him to thank God for the Thessalonians. His
round-the-clock prayer emphasis is that he may see them and help them in their
faith in Christ. He continues to pray that God will direct his way to them.
V 12–13: TIES Meanwhile Paul prays that their
love will strengthen towards one another and that they will be established in
holiness. He reminds them that Christ is coming again with His saints.
The
Bible Panorama. Copyright © 2005 Day One Publications.
