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÷÷1 THESSALONIANS 3

1 THESSALONIANS 3

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

BRIEF OUTLINE OF CHAPTER 3

1. Paul, in great anxiety, sends Timothy to help this new church at Thessalonica, 1 Thess. 3:1-5
   
   
2. Timothy returns to Paul with good news, 1 Thess. 3:6-10
   
   
3. In response Paul prays for the Thessalonian Church, 1 Thess. 3:11-13

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

÷1 THESSALONIANS 3:1-10

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1 THESSALONIANS 3:1-10
 ¹Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone, ²and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, ³so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this. ⁴For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know. ⁵For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain. ⁶But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, ⁷for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; ⁸for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord. ⁹For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account, ¹⁰as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?

3:1 "could endure it no longer" Paul was worried about this church because

1. it was born in persecution (cf. 1 Thess. 2:17-20)
2. he had to leave so soon (exact length of time in Thessalonica uncertain but only weeks)
3. his pastor's heart would give him no rest (cf. 1 Thess. 3:5)

▣ "to be left behind" This PRESENT ACTIVE PARTICIPLE was used of

1. a child leaving his parents, Eph. 5:31 (possibly more parental imagery like 1 Thess. 2:7,11,17)
2. the death of one's spouse (cf. Mark 12:19)

Paul deeply loved this church

▣ "at Athens alone" Paul's visit to Athens is recorded in Acts 17:15-34. This was the intellectual center of the Hellenistic world. Paul had eye problems (compare 2 Cor. 12:7 with Gal. 4:15 and 6:11), and it was very hard for him to be alone, especially in an unfamiliar environment such as Athens.

The term "alone" is PLURAL but the implication is uncertain. Acts 18:5 implies both Silas and Timothy were on assignment. Luke had been left in Philippi to help the church. This verse may be an example of Paul's use of "we" as an editorial PLURAL, referring only to himself.

This phrase refers to Timothy. The Greek manuscripts differ:

1. manuscript B has "co-laborer"
2. manuscripts א and A have "minister"

The term denoted the lowly service of a slave. Most modern translations follow manuscript B. Possibly a scribe was shocked at Paul calling Timothy "God's co-laborer."

This verse is functioning like a letter of recommendation for Timothy (cf. Acts 18:27; Rom. 16:1; 2 Cor. 8:18-24; 3 John 9,10).

SPECIAL TOPIC: TIMOTHY

SPECIAL TOPIC: LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

▣ "the gospel of Christ" The good news (i.e., gospel) of the Father's love and actions on behalf of rebellious humanity can be called

1. the gospel of the Kingdom (cf. Matt. 4:23; Mark 1:14)
2. the gospel of Christ
3. Paul even calls it "my gospel"

The variety in Romans and 1 Thessalonians shows they are synonymous.

#2   Rom. 1:1; 15:16; 1 Thess. 2:2,8,9

#3   Rom. 1:16; 15:19; 1 Thess. 3:2

#4   Rom. 2:16; 16:25; 1 Thess. 1:5

▣ "to strengthen and encourage you" Paul was worried about this new church under persecution (cf. 1 Thess. 1:6; 2:14; 3:3).

▣ "your faith" This is a crucial theological term and concept. The gospel cannot be understood without a good sense of the meaning and usage of this NOUN, VERB.

SPECIAL TOPIC: FAITH, BELIEVE, OR TRUST

3:3 "so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions" This is the only use of the term "disturbed" in the NT (or LXX).

1. It originally referred to a dog wagging its tail.
2. In classical Greek (Homer), it was used in the sense of "flattered."
3. This may relate to 1 Thess. 2:1 or 3:5 (i.e., "in vain")
4. True faith perseveres (cf. Matt. 13:1-23; John 15:1-6; Gal. 6:9; Rev. 2:2-3,7,11,17,19,26; 3:5,8,10,11,12,21).

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE NEED TO PERSEVERE

▣ "we have been destined for this" This is a PRESENT PASSIVE (deponent) INDICATIVE. The PASSIVE VOICE implies that God is the active agent. It is not a reference to

1. the pagan idea of an impersonal fate
2. the Islamic idea of determinism

Suffering is the norm for believers in a fallen world (cf. 1 Thess. 3:3-4; Matt. 5:10-12; John 15:18, 20; 16:33; Acts 14:22; Rom. 8:17; 2 Cor. 4:7-11; 11:23-27; 2 Tim. 3:12; 1 Pet. 2:21; 4:12-16). Suffering is a means of spiritual maturity (cf. Heb. 5:8).

SPECIAL TOPIC: WHY DO CHRISTIANS SUFFER?

SPECIAL TOPIC: A SUFFERING MESSIAH

3:4 "we kept telling you in advance" This is an IMPERFECT TENSE which means repeated action in past time. Paul must have warned them several times about the persecution and suffering connected to the gospel. He knew this from Jesus' teachings (cf. Matt. 5:10-12; John 15:20; 2 Tim. 3:12) and personal experience (cf. 2 Cor. 4:7-11; 6:3-10; 11:23-29). They now know it experientially also.

This is a PRESENT ACTIVE INDICATIVE with a PRESENT PASSIVE INFINITIVE. The Williams' translation footnote says "a picture of a loaded wagon crushed under its heavy load." I really like the Williams translation of the NT. I have put its website on the homepage of my website (www.freebiblecommentary.org).

3:5 "your faith" This is possibly used in the OT sense of "faithfulness." Remember, the authors of the NT were Hebrew thinkers (except Luke) so the best place to consult the word meaning is the Koine Greek translation of the OT, done about 150 B.C. Were they true to their profession of faith?

SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH AND FAITHFULNESS (OT)

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FAITH

SPECIAL TOPIC: SEPTUAGINT

▣ "the tempter might have tempted you" A personal, evil force (ho peirazōn) is active in our world and in our lives (cf. 1 Thess. 2:18). This Greek word translated "tempt" (peirazō) connotes tempting "with a view toward destruction," the opposite of "approved" (dokimazō) in 1 Thess. 2:4.

SPECIAL TOPIC: PERSONAL EVIL

SPECIAL TOPIC: GREEK TERMS FOR TESTING AND THEIR CONNOTATIONS

▣ "our labor would be in vain" The use of MOODS is important here; the INDICATIVE which is the MOOD of reality is used of Satan, but the SUBJUNCTIVE which is the MOOD of contingency, is used of Paul's labor. This may relate to 1 Thess. 2:1. The question is, "Does ‘in vain‘ relate to their personal conversion or the establishment of a viable functioning church in Thessalonica?" I think the latter is the only contextual option, although Paul probably would not have made a distinction. He understood and preached both justification and sanctification.

Paul uses the concept of "vain" or "fruitless" often and incorporates three different words.

1. eikē ‒ Rom. 13:4; 1 Cor. 15:2; Gal. 3:4; 4:11; Col. 2:18
2. kenos ‒ 1 Cor. 15:10,14,58; 2 Cor. 6:1; Gal. 2:2; Eph. 5:6; Phil. 2:16; Col. 2:8; 1 Thess. 2:1; 3:3 (VERB in 2 Cor. 9:3)
3. matalos ‒ 1 Cor. 3:20; 15:17; Titus 3:9 (VERB in Rom. 2:21)

Paul knew the power of the gospel was from divine activity, but he also knew the choices of humans affected the effective outcome (i.e., John 15:1-6)!

SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT

SPECIAL TOPIC: SANCTIFICATION

SPECIAL TOPIC: PERSEVERAMCE

SPECIAL TOPIC: APOSTASY

3:6 "good news" This is the only use of this Greek term in the NT where it does not refer to the gospel of Christ. Timothy's message about the faithful condition of this church was "gospel," "good news" to Paul.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE GOSPEL

▣ "of your faith and love" This phrase can have several meanings (cf. 1 Thess. 1:3). This refers either to:

1. orthodox doctrine and loving care for one another
2. faithfulness and love toward God

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FAITH

▣ "think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you" This shows that neither the pagan or Jewish persecution had embittered this church against Paul.

3:7 "in all our distress and affliction" Paul's problems in Corinth are listed in 1 Cor. 4:9-13; 2 Cor. 4:7-12; 6:4-10 and 11:23-28. Oh my! The costs of being a servant of Christ and a church of Christ!!

▣ "we were comforted" Paul uses this compound word ("with" and "call") often. It has several senses.

1. to urge, exhort, encourage (cf. 1 Thess. 2:3,11; 4:1; 5:14; 2 Thess. 3:12)
2. to comfort (cf. 1 Thess. 2:11; 3:2; 4:18; 5:11; 2 Thess. 2:17)
3. its NOUN form (paraclētos) used of both the helping ministry of
   1. the Spirit (cf. John 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7)
   2. the Son (cf. 1 John 2:1)

SPECIAL TOPIC: COMFORT

3:8 "for now we really live" Paul is using emotional imagery to express his release from his deep concern because of the good news about this church.

▣ "if you stand firm in the Lord" This is a Greek CONDITIONAL SENTENCE, combining FIRST CLASS and THIRD CLASS conditions, thereby adding contingency to Paul's statement. He assumed that they would stand firm but that remained for him to see (cf. 1 Thess. 2:1 and 3:5).

"Standing firm" relates to our position in Christ. The Bible presents our salvation in a tension-filled pair of truths:

1. it is free, it is in Christ
2. it is costly, it is progressive, it is seen in our lifestyle choices (Matthew 7; John 15; James, 1 John)

Both are true. This verse emphasizes the first truth (cf. Rom. 5:2; 1 Cor. 15:1 and Eph. 6:11, 13).

SPECIAL TOPIC: STAND

SPECIAL TOPIC: APOSTASY

▣ "Lord" See SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord (adon and kurios)

3:9-10 This is a rhetorical question that leads into a prayer, 1 Thess. 3:11-13, concluding the first half of Paul's letter.

3:10 "night and day" This is the Jewish order of time (see note at 1 Thess. 2:9). This reflects Paul's constant, persistent prayer life (cf. 1 Thess. 1:2; 2:12; 2 Tim. 1:3).

SPECIAL TOPIC: EFFECTIVE PRAYER

The ADVERB "most earnestly" is a very strong, triple compound (huper + ek + perissou). It is a highly emotional term (cf. Eph. 3:20; 1 Thess. 3:10; 5:13). Paul constantly worried and prayed about these new churches (cf. 2 Cor. 11:28).

SPECIAL TOPIC: PAUL'S USE OF HUPER COMPOUNDS

SPECIAL TOPIC: INTERCESSORY PRAYER

They had done well but they were not yet mature in their understanding, as the misunderstanding about the Second Coming shows. This is the use of "faith"

1. as doctrine (cf. 1 Thess. 4:13-5:11)
2. the recurrent emphasis on lifestyle, "what was lacking" may have had an ethical aspect (cf. 1 Thess. 4:1-12)

Paul uses this term faith (pistis/pisteuō) often in these letters (cf. 1 Thess. 1:3,8; 3:2,5,6,7,10; 5:8; 2 Thess. 1:3,4,11; 3:2), but especially in this context.

SPECIAL TOPIC: FAITH, BELIEVE, OR TRUST

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FAITH

÷1 THESSALONIANS 3:11-13

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1 THESSALONIANS 3:11-13
 ¹¹Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; ¹²and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; ¹³so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.

3:11-13 This is one sentence in Greek. This prayer contains three rare OPTATIVE VERBAL forms:

1. "direct" (1 Thess. 3:11)
2. "increase" (v. 12)
3. "abound" (v. 12)

The OPTATIVE MOOD is the MOOD of potentiality used in prayers.

3:11 "may. . .direct" This is a rare AORIST ACTIVE SINGULAR OPTATIVE VERB, used in several prayers in the NT (cf. 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Thess. 2:16; 3:5, 16 and in Rom. 15:5-6,13). Note the VERB is SINGULAR, though it refers to both God the Father and Jesus Christ. This was a way for the NT authors to assert the Deity of Jesus of Nazareth (cf. 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 2:16; also note Matt. 28:19).

Another theological point is that just as Satan prevented Paul from coming to them, recorded in 1 Thess. 2:18, Paul asked the Father and Son to make a way (straight or smooth: cf. Luke 1:79) for him to visit them!

▣ "Father" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FATHERHOOD OF GOD

3:12-13 Paul prayed for himself in 1 Thess. 3:11 (he asked for prayer in Eph. 6:19), but now his petition turns toward the church at Thessalonica.

1. He prayed for their love for one another and all people (cf. Eph. 6:18).
2. He also prayed for the believers' holiness (cf. 1 Thess. 3:13; Eph. 1:4). God's will for every believer is Christlikeness (cf. Rom. 8:28-29; 2 Cor. 3:18; 7:1; Gal. 4:19; Eph. 1:4; 4:13; 1 Thess. 4:3,7; 5:23; 1 Pet. 1:15).

3:12 "abound" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ABOUND (perisseuō)

▣ "for all people" God's love is as wide as the world (cf. John 1:29; 3:16; 4:42; 12:47; Rom. 5:18; 1 Tim. 2:4; Titus 2:11; 3:4; Heb. 2:9; 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 John 2:2; 4:14); so too, must be ours who know Him.

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

3:13 "hearts" See SPECIAL TOPIC: HEART

Holiness is both a gift and a task (INDICATIVE and IMPERATIVE). The word "blameless" is characteristic of someone above reproach, against whom no accusation may be brought (cf. Eph. 5:27). This leaves Satan with no basis for criticism (cf. Rom. 8:31,32,33). God's will for every believer is Christlike holiness (cf. 1 Thess. 4:3; Rom. 8:28-29; Gal. 4:19; Eph. 1:4). See note at 2 Thess. 4:3.

SPECIAL TOPIC: BLAMELESS, INNOCENT, GUILTLESS, WITHOUT REPROACH

SPECIAL TOPIC: SANCTIFICATION

▣ "at the coming of our Lord Jesus" This shows Paul's continuing concern about end-time events (cf. 1 Thess. 2:19; 4:15-17).

The exact relationship between the events of

1. the Second Coming
2. the Rapture (cf. 1 Thess. 4:13-18)
3. the Judgment Seat of Christ (cf. 2 Cor. 5:10)
4. the White Throne of Judgment (cf. Matthew 25 and Revelation 20)

are uncertain. Be careful of dogmatism in this area. I think they are all simultaneous!

SPECIAL TOPIC: SECOND COMING

SPECIAL TOPIC: RAPTURE

▣ "His saints" "Saints" (lit. "holy ones") are either (1) angels who will accompany Jesus (cf. Deut. 33:2-3; Zech. 14:5; Matt. 16:27; 25:31; Mark 8:38; 2 Thess. 1:7; Rev. 19:4); or (2) His people, saints (cf. 1 Thess. 4:14-16). Paul never called angels "saints" or "holy ones," possibly solving the interpretive issue. Probably both angels and saints will return with Him on the clouds of heaven. This church was unsure if the dead saints would participate in the end-time events.

Saints, literally "holy ones," are called to holiness (cf. 1 Thess. 4:3) by the Holy One (cf. 1 Pet. 1:15)! The goal of Christianity is "holiness" now (cf. Eph. 1:4), not heaven when we die!

SPECIAL TOPIC: HOLY

SPECIAL TOPIC: SAINTS

SPECIAL TOPIC: GODLY ONES

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HOLY ONE

▣ Some Greek MSS add "Amen" (i.e., MSS אi^*2, A, D^*), but other very early ones omit it (i.e., MSS אi¹, B, D², F, G). The UBS⁴ is uncertain about its inclusion, but Bruce Metzger (i.e., A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, p. 631) thinks it was left off because scribes thought an "Amen" in the middle of a letter was inappropriate.

▣ "Amen" See SPECIAL TOPIC: AMEN

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. Why was it hard for Paul to be alone?
2. List the different meanings of the term "faith."
3. Is suffering normal for believers? Why?
4. Is sanctification initial or progressive?
5. Does verse 5 refer to one's salvation or fruitfulness? How do 2:1 and 3:5 relate to the parable of the Soils (cf. Matt. 13:1-23)?

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