1 Thessalonians 3 Bible study

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1 Thessalonians Chapter 3:1–13 Standing Firm in Christ 3:1 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we decided to be left alone in Athens.

From our previous studies we know that the Thessalonians' conversion to Christ resulted in their having to face fierce persecution from their own countrymen. Indeed, this opposition was so fierce that Paul, Silas, and Timothy were forced to leave the city, being sent away to Berea for their own safety. Eventually, the mob at Thessalonica found out where they were and followed them there, whereupon Paul was forced to flee to Athens (see Acts17:1–15).

As we saw in 2:17–18, Paul expressed his great desire to come and visit the Thessalonian church again but Satan obstructed his attempts to do so. Here in this verse we see the measure of Paul’s genuine love and concern for these new converts, for he was so much in suspense at not having heard whether they were standing firm in the faith despite fierce opposition that it became unbearable. He yearned to be with them and to stand with them in their suffering, encouraging and building them up in the faith. Eventually he could bear the uncertainty no longer and decided to send Timothy back alone to Thessalonica whilst he and Silas stayed at Athens. Even though Timothy was a Greek the situation in Thessalonica remained a perilous one for him; even so, at some risk to himself, he went back, trusting in the Lord.

3:2–3 And we sent Timothy, our brother and co-worker for God in proclaiming the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you for the sake of your faith, so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions.

For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.

Paul had complete confidence in Timothy whom he had nurtured in the faith since he first joined him at Lystra where Timothy had a good reputation amongst the brethren (Acts 16:1–2). He also had a sound background for his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois were faithful believers (2 Timothy 1:5). He was a faithful worker for God in proclaiming the gospel message and Paul knew that he could trust him to teach the Thessalonians the true doctrines of Christ and that he would strengthen, build them up in the faith and comfort them. He would encourage them to stand firm and not be shaken by the afflictions and difficulties

that they were suffering, for these were an unavoidable part of their being followers of Christ (Matt 24:9–10, John 15:20).

3:4 For in fact when we were with you, we were telling you in advance that we would suffer affliction, and so it has happened, as you well know.

While Paul was with the Thessalonians he had warned them that following Jesus Christ would not lead to a life of ease but one of hardship, difficulties, opposition and persecution—a life like that lived by Christ (Matthew 16:24). They had witnessed this in the way Paul was treated in Thessalonica (Acts 17:13–14) and it had happened to them too, as they were well aware.

3:5 So when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter somehow tempted you and our toil had proven useless.

Knowing the effect that such opposition could have on new converts Paul was very concerned to know how they were coping with it. When the suspense of not knowing became too much for him to endure, he sent Timothy to find out if the devil had been successful in his attempts (through the trials and temptations) to make the Thessalonians turn back from the faith in the way Jesus had described in his parable of the sower and the seed (Matt 13:20–21). If this happened, then all his labour and suffering among the Thessalonians would have been for nothing.

3:6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love.

He has told us also that you always remember us kindly and long to see us--just as we long to see you.

Timothy had just returned from visiting the Thessalonian church with the good news that they were standing firm in the faith in spite of all that they were suffering, and that they had not succumbed to the wiles of the devil (1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:11). They were also continuing to show evidence of genuine love for each other and for the apostles whom they longed to see as much as the apostles longed to see them.

3:7–8 For this reason, brothers and sisters, during all our distress and persecution we have been encouraged about you through your faith. For we now live, if you continue to stand firm in the Lord.

Paul was at Corinth when Timothy came with this good news, and in that city he continued to suffer great distress and persecution (Acts 18:5, for a full picture read the whole of Acts 18). Their faith and love were a great encouragement to him which gave him renewed impetus to continue preaching the gospel and suffering for Christ’s sake.

3:9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you?

They had already given thanks to God for the Thessalonian’s conversion, but now they couldn’t thank God enough for all the joy which they had, coming into God’s presence, that they had been kept strong through the storm. Paul expresses such joy in his letters whenever he hears that converts were growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, and perhaps this is best expressed in his letter to the Philippian church (Phil 2:2; 4:1).

Praying for the Church 3.10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.

In 2 Corinthians Paul enumerated the many things that he had suffered for the gospel, and then added, ‘besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.’ It was this concern that led him to pray earnestly night and day for his converts, and here he assures the Thessalonians that he prays that he may be able to come and see them again to teach them the things which were still lacking in their understanding of the faith, thus bringing them to a more perfect knowledge of God (1 Peter 5:10).

3:11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you.

Until now they had been hindered from returning, and Paul knew that only God, through his Son the Lord Jesus Christ, would be able to make a way for them to visit the believers in Thessalonica again. Later Paul did go back (Acts 20:2–3).

3:12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we do for you, Paul continuously prayed to God the Father that the Lord Jesus Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit in the believers’’ lives, would cause their love to increase and abound for one another and for all people just as the apostles’ love had grown and abounded toward them.

3:13 so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Paul prayed that this work may be done in them so that their hearts would be strengthened to live a blameless holy life in the sight of God (our Father), and that this state of holiness would be preserved until the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ with his saints (Ephesians 5:27).

Phil 2:15–16 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.